Breaking Free

My inspiration for this piece was Kamala Harris’ dramatic and problematic run for President. Seeing her continue to be berated for being a qualified black woman in a growing racist, misogynistic world prompted me to think back to how it all start for us in American: The Transatlantic Slave Trade. In Breaking Free, the powerful figure of a Black woman rises from the depths of the water, symbolizing liberation, resilience, strength, and the unyielding human spirit. Her emergence from the water is particularly significant, as it evokes the tragic memory of the Middle Passage, where countless enslaved people drowned or perished in the treacherous ocean and deplorable ships’ condition. By rising from these waters, she honors their memory and transforms the place of historical trauma into a symbol of survival, renewal, and hope.

The broken chains, that once were symbols of oppression, now flow freely behind her like decoration and are worn defiantly as a statement of empowerment. By repurposing these chains as fashion, she transforms objects of servitude into symbols of self-empowerment, boldly reclaiming her narrative with the utmost defiance. Her raised fist, held in the Black Power salute, amplifies this message, embodying solidarity, resistance, and pride in her identity.

This gesture, combined with her upward gaze with the water and moon illuminating from her skin, speaks to the strength of collective struggle and the personal journey of breaking free from physical, mental, or societal constraints. The monochromatic contrasts accentuate her expression of determination, capturing the universal quest for self-liberation and the transformative power of intrinsic resilience. This piece stands as a tribute to black women who still have to overcome adversity, reclaiming their power and identity in the face of oppression.