Thomas' thoughtful inquiries encourage viewers of all backgrounds to engage with a politic of love for Black women in their personal, professional, and political lives. However, the exhibition is unapologetically for us, by us—a spectacular, kaleidoscopic funhouse of mirrors where we feel seen in a myriad of moments, lights, and perspectives at every turn.

The opening reception of the new Gordon Parks exhibition at Pace Gallery vividly reminded me of the first time I encountered his photography. I can’t recall the when and where of the exact moment, but I distinctly remember the sensation…

On a recent July night, RM47 lit up South Central Los Angeles with their infectious track “Buss It,” making a strong case for song of the summer. The audience's electric reaction suggested that Raleigh and MAAD were seasoned 90s veterans performing a cult classic, rather than millennial stars presenting a track released in May.

Are Black women constantly obsessing about the Male Gaze and the White Gaze? No. We are not a monolith and don’t all share the same exact anxieties, if any at all, about our appearances. But just know that when you encounter a Black girl or woman stressing about her outfit and hairstyle for a school or work event, there’s levels to this shit!

“Finding Soft Ground” combines portraiture, text, video, and more to highlight the lives of Black women and femmes in various physical and emotional environments, revealing the abnormality of normalized discomfort, aggression, and terror while spotlighting the critical spaces of care, sanctuary, and ease that often go unrecognized.

Black self-expression and self-perception have always been tools of liberation. When deciding on my Juneteenth outfit, I aimed to evoke enthusiasm, optimism, and joy. I wanted to be bold, loud in a celebratory way, to take up space. Enter: The Tango Midi Dyana dress from Sabby Lou Knit.

Renowned for her offering of powerful sociopolitical commentary with an impassioned poetic flair, multidisciplinary artist-activist LaToya Ruby Frazier has dedicated her 20-plus-year career to reviving and preserving forgotten narratives of labor, inequality, gender, and race in the postindustrial era.

The soft, curves of the organza bodysuit and skirt paired perfectly with the famed Los Angeles building designed by architect Richard Meier, as did rocking an artsy look from a Black-owned brand and designed by a Black woman to a Black-centered art event.

Even during golden hour, the stunning panoramic Los Angeles views just couldn’t compete with the rich medley of melanin and style. We’d been invited to celebrate Black visual culture with the center’s African American Art History Institute (AAAHI) and—I’m so sorry to be that person, but—we clearly understood the assignment.

“A mystical black bird can fly to hidden dimensions,” the 30-year-old Brazilian artist said in a recent interview.

The exhibition, which closed on June 1, continues the visual conversations from his 2021 Studio Museum of Harlem residency, showcasing deeply tender portrayals of Black trans masculine identities in moments of grief, rest, contemplation, devotion, sexuality, and love.

You might have noticed by now that I opt for outfits likely to provoke particular presumptions along the lines of, “She looks super confident/high-maintenance/bougie,” “she’s doing the most,” and “Who does she think she is?”

The act of holding something for someone, particularly something large and not meant to be held, really underscores one of the ideas I’m trying to explore in the piece: having Black women and non-Black women alike help a Black woman by doing a share of her work or task.

The show embarks on a profound journey of excavating stories across the African diaspora, bringing to light revelations that illuminate our past while shaping our present and future. What a treat to reflect on each incredible piece, writing individual descriptions and tying them all together in an essay.

I’m in the early stages of developing “Feeling Myself: an exercise in unapologetic vanity and conceit,” a public performance piece that centers on Black girls and women being unapologetically proud of their appearance and achievements and having people who aren’t Black women assist us in these moments.