I found myself, praying for an opportunity to showcase my art in another form. I asked God to be the light, I asked my ancestors to be the guiding force. I found myself sitting in a lonely place. A few more lonely places than I had expected to be. I just remember asking for my work to be showed in another form, Whatever form it had to be somewhere it could impact the world. Something that could be seen globally. Something that would resonate. Something that I could leave behind like the hundreds of people before me. What could I say, what could I do so that receivers of my legacy remember me? Reeyana Mahen Sehgeh, born of Melisa E. Gray and Mohammed A. Kamara, sister of Reditri A. Sehgeh, Darious and Dimia M., and aunt of Stinl, Landyn, Marley, Z, Tristan, Yeshua and etc. An aunt of many and mother of none at the moment. 

​

So I took a step forward, only to be pushed backwards. Yet, I continued to step until I realized there was something about me that did not fit, and the journey was to figure out what. What about me did not fit, what about me wasn't accepting? Was the idea of my blackness cute for the moment but problematic to the system that was created to coddle the feelings of those who didn't appreciate change? Was it my content? Was to my nails? My hair? What was it ? 

​

Whatever​  it was, hopefully it continues to make you uncomfortable. Maybe that can open dialogue about blackness, freely just existing.

​

*Shoutout to my friends who have become the stars of my pieces. I appreciate y'all. No Cap.