RESEARCH & APPLICATION
LITERATURE REVIEW
"Their Eyes Were Watching God"
Zora Neale Hurston
"The Master Tools Will Never Distmatle the Masters House"
Andre Lorde
"Black Macho and The Myth of The Super Woman"
Michelle Wallace
"Black Panthers"
Agnés Varda
"The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators
bell hooks
SURVEY OF PRACTICE
Kaylan Michael
Manzel Bowman
National Museum of African American History & Culture
In the Black Fantastic
Soft White Underbelly
QUANTITATIVE SURVEY
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
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Demographics: Participants mostly belong to the age group of 18-24, with diverse ethnic backgrounds including African and Caribbean.
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Education Level: The majority holds a Bachelor's Degree or higher, with some still in College/Sixth form
Racial Identity Influence:
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Participants generally rate their racial identity as strongly influencing their overall identity.
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They also acknowledge its influence on societal expectations and stereotypes.
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Gender Intersectionality: Most participants feel that gender intersects with their racial identity in shaping their experiences and perceptions, with some reporting challenges related to being a Black woman.
Challenges Faced:
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Challenges include systemic racism, discrimination in educational and work environments, microaggressions, and feeling socially uncomfortable.
Cultural Heritage:
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Participants generally feel connected to their cultural heritage.
Media Representation:
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They believe media representation significantly influences societal perceptions of Black women. However, they feel mainstream media often inaccurately represents the experiences of Black women.
Historical Events' Influence:
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Participants agree that historical events such as slavery and the civil rights era have significantly contributed to shaping Black culture and their own sense of identity.
Intersectionality Impact:
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They believe the intersectionality of race, gender, and other aspects has shaped their experiences and perceptions in various social contexts.
Significance of Symbols in Black Culture:
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Religious and spiritual practices, cultural traditional clothing, natural hairstyles, music genres, and resistance movements are rated highly significant in representing Black culture and personal identity.
These findings reflect a complex interplay of racial and gender identity, societal perceptions, historical influences, and cultural heritage among Black women in various contexts.
INTERVIEWS
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The interview with black women of various ages delves into their diverse lived experiences that have significantly impacted and moulded their identities. These experiences encompass a wide range of factors, including upbringing, culture, heritage, ancestral roots, natural hair, religion, beliefs, and family dynamics, among others. Each woman shares personal anecdotes and reflections on how these elements have shaped who they are today.
Through the lens of the interview, it becomes evident that the journey of identity formation for black women is intricate and multifaceted. Their stories reveal the complex interplay between individual experiences and broader societal influences, highlighting the resilience, creativity, and strength inherent in their narratives.
This interview serves as the foundational research for exploring the ultimate question: How do the diverse life experiences of black women contribute to the intricate and multifaceted formation of their identity? By examining the various elements explored in the interview, such as cultural heritage, familial relationships, and personal beliefs, insights emerge into the rich tapestry of black women's identities.
Drawing inspiration from these diverse experiences, art pieces can be formulated that visually and artistically showcase the lived experiences of black women through the lens of Afrofuturism. By incorporating elements of speculative fiction, technology, and cultural aesthetics, these artworks serve as visual metaphors for empowering black women and honouring the stories that shape them. Through vibrant imagery and symbolic representation, the art pieces celebrate the resilience, beauty, and complexity of black women's identities, inviting viewers to engage with their narratives in a thought-provoking and transformative manner.