“Identity” by Andrea Cauthen

“Identity”—(24×18, pen and ink, 2010)

The identity of self coupled with the attempt to balance the identity that is imposed on us through colonization is a constant struggle for black people, particularly African-Americans in this country. Through slavery, post-slavery, civil rights, the birth of the black middle class and the imaginary “post racial” period of the first African-American serving as the president of the United States, one wonders when and if black people can escape the cloud of “nigger” that hovers over us. The more things “appear” to change-the more the state of black people seem to rotate over and over again on a 360 degree axis of non-progression.

“All in a Name” (18×24 mixed media, 2010)

There is a growing linguistic sexism and verbal humiliation that black women face through the media, particularly through negative examples of what is passing through the music industry as today’s version of “hip-hop,” as well as the onslaught of women produced and casted “reality tv.” This piece is an example of what misogynistic labeling can do to the state of black women particularly young black girls who are trying to determine their place in a society that seems to overly sexualize women now more than any other time period in history. Most importantly, is how we have embraced these words, particularly among the youth; words once considered degrading have now been embraced and used nonchalantly as if the meaning has somehow changed.

[author_info]Andrea Cauthen is a New York based artist who is originally from Silver Spring, MD. Born to a Jamaican mother and African-American father, Andrea completed her B.A. in studio art at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and later moved to New York where she completed her A.A.S. degree in fashion design from Parsons School of Design. She held an artist residency in Lacoste, France, where she participated in her first group show “Revelations.” In addition to her work as an artist, Andrea is also a mentor to young children as well as a full time textile designer in the fashion industry.[/author_info]