Chicano

In 2018, after years of learning about my ancestry through fine art classes,
anthropology, history, sociology, paleography and researching throughout many places
in the world, I completed my bachelor's degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
At this point, I came to the realization that I was raised in a lie resulting from the impact
of colonialism on my homeland of Hispaniola, where my black ancestry was never
properly acknowledged or honored. My great grandmother was of Haitian descent but
was never talked about in a way that I might honor her roots as my own.
On the contrary, I was raised to adore a white god, white angels, and white
cherubs--icons I could not relate to because I am black. I even experienced racism
first hand from my own pale-skinned mother, who made disparaging remarks about
the curly texture of my hair and the brown color of my skin. Yet, the legacy of
colonialism convinced me to rewrite my history. Growing up, I listened to the song
""Angelitos Negros,"" an original poem by Andres Eloy Blanco, sung by Eartha Kitt and
Javier Solis in Spanish. This amazing work of music and poetry helped me appreciate
my black roots and honor my black ancestors.
While taking a mixed media class at The Art Students League in New York with
Martha Bloom, my series ""Black Angels Rising"" was born. Also under the mentorship
of Faith Ringgold. I haven't seen any black angels before so, suffice it to say, they
were born with their own identities and speak of human rights and social justice. The
series further developed as I became inspired by activists like Maya Angelou,
Muhammad Ali, Toussaint Louverture, and Cesar Chavez. And the works of Faith
Ringgold.
The work from the ""Black Angels Rising"" series that is on exhibition at the
Sugar Hill Children’s Museum is the one inspired by Cesar Chavez. The one exhibited
today at Comisionado Dominicano De Cultura is Inspired by the Legacy of Toussaint Louverture "