Choyce Brown, daughter of Tabitha and Chance Brown, radiates confidence in the above photoshoot that pays homage to Halle Berry’s iconic role in the movie “BAPS.” As a nail and ring enthusiast, I resonate with the powerful imagery captured by Jacob Webster. Nail art, for me, is more than just aesthetics; it’s a canvas for self-expression. (See below; shoutout to my sister, who does my nails)

It's very on-brand for me!

But I digress.

However, some critics argue that these photos perpetuate Black girl stereotypes. I see it differently. These images celebrate the richness of Black culture—the intricate hairstyles, bold fashion choices, and expressive nail designs. Why is it that when Black women embrace these elements, they’re often labeled as “ghetto”?

We must challenge these stereotypes. Articles frequently tout cornrows and long nails as trends, but when Black women embrace them, they face judgment. Let’s recognize the beauty and resilience in our self-expression.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, let’s remember its significance—the emancipation of enslaved African Americans—and continue to express ourselves authentically. No one should dictate how we celebrate our heritage.

Jacob Webster around the web: IG | WEBSITE

Fordjour often quotes directly from Harlem Renaissance artists like Archibald Motley Jr., and Richmond Barthé, he says, to keep their contributions in art historical consciousness.

Credit...via Derek Fordjour and David Kordansky Gallery

Find Derek Fordjour on IG

Barkley L. Hendricks (1945–2017)

© Barkley L. Hendricks, courtesy of the Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York

One of Barkley Hendricks’s earliest portraits, Lawdy Mama imbues the Black feminine form with integrity, while also alluding to Byzantine and medieval religious icons. Elevating the Black figure to a subject worthy of veneration, the artist draws a visual comparison between his sitter and iconic depictions of Kathleen Cleaver, Angela Davis, and other women of the Black Power movement in the 1960s. The painting, which depicts the artist’s cousin, also comments on the overall lack of painted representations of Black bodies.

Currently on view at The Brooklyn Museum. // Exhibition // Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys

70 by 60cm

Find Moses Zibor here: IG | Website