Early Work
Portraits throughout Ghana, West Africa, 2005
Black Respite
BLACK: adj. relating or belonging to any of the various human populations characterized by dark skin pigmentation, specifically the dark-skinned peoples of Africa, Oceania, and Australia.relating to or noting the descendants of these populations, without regard for the lightness or darkness of skin tone.
RESPITE: n. a delay or cessation for a time, especially of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief
Black Respite is a repose from Whiteness and the unrelenting trauma of systemic oppression. From 2018-2019 I traveled to countries where the majority of the population looked like me. It was a luxury and privilege to immerse myself in Blackness. I danced in the streets, I met distant cousins and swam in Yemaja's oceans. I spent everyday celebrating my Blackness and learning more about myself and my people. Everything that experience that year has left a lasting mark on my work.
This collection of photos is a small glimpse into my Black Respite.The use of color in this work focuses on the richness of the subjects complexions and how the light reflects on their skin.
Crowning Glory
One of the most intimate yet universal experiences of Black women is the braiding of our hair. Our African and Indigenous ancestry endows hair with significance beyond physical beauty; our long flowing braids are a conduit for spiritual anointing, a symbol of tribe and belonging, and a method for intergenerational bonding. Inspired by her own experiences and by the Black women who make up her closest friends and family, Everette creates a scene that highlights their strength and beauty through the ritual of hair braiding.
A ritual experienced around the world, the women tightly encircle Zya — a deeply intimate expression of sisterhood and inter-generational connection. Dressed in white, reminiscent of those worn by Orisha and Houdoun priestesses throughout the Diaspora . As the braiders slowly, patiently create this elaborate East African braided style and Zya and the braids extend out in their splendor, she rises higher on a pedestal in strength and confidence. Taking hours or even days to complete, braiding is a labor of love, patience, and artistic precision resulting in a breathtaking headdress. “Crowning Glory” tells the story of sisterhood, motherhood, community, collective care, triumph, and the complex elixir of beauty and spiritual mystique carried by Black women, atop our heads and within our beings.
Words by Courtney Napier
