DNA DAWTAS (OF THE DIASPORA)
Keena Azania Romano | Bay Area (Oakland/Hayward) | USA
I applied to the Bakanal de Afrique Fellowship program because I was looking for opportunities to showcase my artwork and to connect with the larger global artist community. (I also know a friend who participated in the previous session, and after I went to support one of the events, I felt inspired to apply!) I chose to work on a project related to race and shared ancestry - how culture and identity travels through DNA - to honor where my people come from and bring awareness to the “mixed-race” experience which is often overlooked and excluded. This painting, DNA DAWTAS (Of the Diaspora) aims to bring healing to our relatives who often suffer from the experience of colorism as a result of colonization and slavery. It represents an attempt to repair some of the trauma and division that affects our community and to remind us of our direct connection; and to be inclusive of the array of black representation and experiences.
This piece is a collaboration between my (deceased) grandmother and myself as a project of intergenerational healing and a reclamation of our pride as descendants of Africa. I used acrylic paint, stencils and spray paint to replicate two ceramic sculptures my grandmother created that are now heirlooms in our family. She created them during a time when it was socially frowned upon to claim African ancestry and to be proud of afrocentric traits and features (such as braids, etc) and it was more desirable to have European features (lighter skin, straight hair, etc). Two generations later - on the other side of that coin - is my experience growing up as a young girl feeling rejected by the (black) community for not being “black” enough: my skin is too light, my hair not kinky enough, etc). However, I am here to honor my people, my culture and my great grandmothers who are still waiting on the shores of the motherland hoping their daughters who were stolen from them never forget about them. Say it loud and say it proud - I’m Black and I’m Proud!
For the folks who see this painting, I hope that you can be open to understand that Blackness is complex and inclusive. Light skin people have to hold space for dark skin and vice versa. We have different struggles, yet we must stand in solidarity to continue to restore and uplift our community and our spirit at large - by every means necessary.
Some possible Resources to share regarding this topic:
Color Complex - Cathy Russell
Colorism on the Phil Donahue Show (1994)
Boy Snow Bird - Helen Oluwole
The Color of Us - Karen Katz
Genesis Begins Again - Alicia D. Williams
Songs:
Four Women - Nina Simone
The Story of OJ - Jay - Z
Production Credits
Grandmother Leslie Charlene Smith Tucker (ibae) and myself
Technical Details
5ft x 5 ft (approx)
about the artist
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