“No Crystal Stair” African American portraits We have created self-sacrifice as

We have created self-sacrifice as a noble quality for black women and it has become too heavy a burden for black women to bear

we also mourn their perpetual need to overcome the trials of this space

Her face is literally the culmination of generations

cloth on wood board

16x20 acrylic on panel board

“No Crystal Stair” African American portraits We have created self-sacrifice asThis painting was inspired by Langston Hughes famous poem Mother to Son. The image in many ways speaks for itself but the viewer should pay special attention to how the background informs the mood and energy of the piece. Raising black children in such a world as this takes grit, fortitude, intelligence, commitment, and above all, undying love. While the pressures of black parenting are real and often intense, they can also be incredibly rewarding. We