Something Went Down in the Playground

Oil paint, mixed-media, image transfers, and hair extensions

Something Went Down in the Playground focuses on the narrative of how my own hair was a situation during my childhood. The composition not only relates to me with my self portrait and my story on hair discrimination, but it is relatable to Black culture, in general. Any Black kid can feel nostalgic from this composition because they were also faced with judgment on their own hair. This artwork is oil on canvas with a mixture of photo transfers and hair extensions. The concept behind my composition was presenting the issue of black children and their hair. There have been multiple incidents of black children, who are seeking education, being kicked out of class for their hair. The act of hair discrimination continues in the professional work field, but it happens often to children in school and college. They are faced with the embarrassment of having to cut off their hair or get yelled at by parents or teachers. This composition focuses on my own experience in hair discrimination and how I had to defend my identity by myself. The audience is welcomed with the narrative of myself battling against a young White girl who was a bully and her mother arguing against me and this fight takes place in a principal office. To engage the audience further, I added in a first person perspective where the viewer is the principal and is immediately faced with the immediate decision making. Even though it may seem like a painting about debate, there are references to the army for their past strict rules in the presentation of natural styled Black hair. The painted chia pet in the corner is referenced because Black hair can have the same volume and size as the chia plant. And finally, a painting by Normn Rockwell of Ruby Bridges, as she was an inspiration for all Black children that seeked education. In addition to adding layers, the image transfers shown in each clothing speaking on the public reaction to hair discrimination. There are collections on the Crown Act, which is a movement on allowing Black children to keep their natural styled hair, collections on White children bullying Black children in general, and collections on how Black hair continues to be discriminated against in the adult world with it being publicly touched or it being a distraction in the workplace .