Graduate Thesis

Graduate Degree Exhibition / Cranbrook Art Museum / Bloomfield Hills, MI

(From left)

University of Louisville (1950s), 2024

University of Oklahoma (1948), 2024

University of Alabama (1965), 2024

30" x 1.5" x 40" — wooden cradle canvas, canvas cloth, silk screen, acrylic ink, acrylic paint

This series illustrates my fascination with Black Americans who were among the first to attend predominantly white institutions. Comparing my own journey as a minority in these environments, I shed light on the challenges of being a Black student in the pursuit of higher education, emphasizing the isolation often experienced. By including my thumbprints beneath redacted identities accompanied by historical images, I serve as a symbolic representation and support for these pioneering Black students.This series illustrates my fascination with Black Americans who were among the first to attend predominantly white institutions. Comparing my own journey as a minority in these environments, I shed light on the challenges of being a Black student in the pursuit of higher education, emphasizing the isolation often experienced. By including my thumbprints beneath redacted identities accompanied by historical images, I serve as a symbolic representation and support for these pioneering Black students.

University of Louisville (1950s)

I found a picture of university students in a Saturday Evening Post article that caught my attention. The three Black students in the photo raised questions for me - where are they from, what are they studying, and do they feel welcome in this setting? In the original image, they are the only minorities among a predominantly white group of classmates. This historic image holds significance as it reflects a time when universities were beginning to desegregate. Seeing these young women pursuing higher education resonates with me personally. Despite being taken at the University of Kentucky in the 1950s, further information about the image or the students depicted remains unknown.

University of Oklahoma (1948)

In 1948, George W. McLaurin broke barriers by becoming the first Black American enrolled at the University of Oklahoma. Despite a court ruling that his exclusion was unconstitutional, segregation within the institution remained legal. McLaurin faced blatant discrimination during his time at OU, being assigned a separate seating area in both the classroom and library while his white counterparts could sit anywhere. The image I have selected for screen printing captures the stark isolation McLaurin experienced, sitting alone at his designated table with only his nametag, highlighting the dehumanizing treatment he endured.

University of Alabama (1965)

Vivian Malone Jones made history on May 30, 1965, as the first Black student to graduate from the University of Alabama, (which was formerly segregated) — receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. Despite her academic achievements in high school and membership in the National Honor Society, Jones was initially denied admission to UA due to supposed "enrollment issues" or "class size". Determined to continue her education, Jones attended Alabama A&M, a predominantly Black university that later lost its accreditation. She eventually returned to UA, where she faced further challenges in gaining acceptance to the School of Commerce and Business Administration due to her race. Alongside another Black student, James Hood, Jones filed a lawsuit against UA and successfully won the right to attend the university. Throughout her time at UA, Jones faced threats, intimidation, and extra security measures for her safety. This difficult journey is evident in a graduation day photo where Jones appears solemn among a sea of white peers, reflecting her exhaustion and desire to move on with her life.