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     there is a magic to be felt when a black individual collects an archive, a fullness to be felt when we realize we've been here for so long. we've been black and here for so long.

     as an artist with a special interest in the re-creation of black archives, i spend time with these artifacts for the love of art and the healing of the soul. with the creation of each shape and every line, i feel a deep connection to those who came before me.

     as of late, i've made it a personal mission of mine to collect black archives and celebrate the individuals and moments within them. this celebration 

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looks like spending hours studying their features, picking colors that capture their essence, and approaching the photographs with a new sense of gratitude for their existence. work like this heals wounds, both old and new, while also grounding me in a destabilizing thought: black life existed before me and black life will continue to exist after. 

through black archives, black viewers can find a home in our history and our community. similarly, through black viewers, black archives find a home in a literal sense, falling into safe hands until the next time they're celebrated. 

     a few months ago, i came upon a copy of jet magazine's may 1971 issue in a record shop in downtown chicago. the magazine sat in a stack with plastic covering, curled edges, and loose staples. something told me it was mine now. just like that, i took the magazine home with the intention of celebrating the images in the way that i do. 

this collection of images is my celebration of jet magazine's may 1971 issue. 

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