Power to The People

I am no stranger to ink, in fact I have an appointment the first week of October to get my neck done, however this tattoo you’re witnessing is currently my most prolific expression of oppression and the power I've inherited, thus allowing me to break old customs, generational curses and projected programming of thought as it relates to my ancestors, my people and myself. Many people get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. I get tattoos to tell a tale. This tattoo tells a tale of a people of power; a people of royal ancestry who were born with infinite strength, equipped to persevere through unimaginable forms of challenges and insurmountable pain and struggles. I am, and represent those people.

As you can see, I have the infamous "Black fist" which represents power and unity for black people on my right upper arm engraved with several chains wrapped around. The base, or what I refer to as the foundation of black unity, power and strength, supports this arm with a reminder to all that my foundation derived from Kings and Queens of majestic capabilities. A solid foundation indeed. On the rim of the crown there are seven stones. These stones represent the seven chakras within our physical bodies. The Crown Chakra, Third Eye Chakra, Throat Chakra, Heart Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra, Sacral Chakra and Root Chakra.

The chains seem pretty obvious to many. These are the chains of oppression in every form of persecution envisioned and systematically embedded on black people. The chains of slavery, the chains of racism, the chains of injustice, and the chains of discrimination which have stagnated us collectively whether physically, emotionally, educationally, mentally, financially and spiritually for hundreds of years.

There is no sunshine without rain, life has taught me. A light is at the end of every tunnel, which is the precise purpose of why I asked the artist to draw one of the chains illustrated to show a link broken. Sometimes all it takes for change to be implemented is for the actions of one person to lead and inspire many people to eventually break the chains of bondage and subjugation. Surviving everyday as a black person is noteworthy indeed because of the endangered species perception the world often treats us as. We are hunted and it’s an ugly reality and uncomfortable normalcy for African Americans, especially in the yet to be United States of America.

With so many odds stacked against me as a single black mother living in the South Bronx of New York City, I, like so many living in the “hood”, in order to survive another day, must reinforce a way of thinking to rise above the pain and pressure.. This tattoo is my reminder that no matter what; in the words of the late great phenomenal poet Maya Angelou; “ Still I Rise”. I got this tattoo in 2019; a year after I received my Masters of Science degree in Criminal Justice. It was my proclamation to always remember who I am and where I come from.

I admire art greatly and the freedom to creatively express oneself through various mechanisms. Tattoos are just one of few tools I utilize to express myself. This tattoo represents the choice to choose empowerment over poverty, change over chaos, unity over division, strength over weakness and the acceptance of one’s individual and collective affirmation that as a black person I know the odds, but I also know I came prepared to play the game to win! You may not be able to control the circumstances you are brought into, but you can if time allows, control the circumstances you remain in.