Description
Acrylic on Canvas
20″x 24″
This is a part of the “Fro-test Oppression” collection inspired by the Tignon Law.
In 1685, the Tignon Law was enacted in the Caribbean, later extended to Louisiana in 1786, mandating that women of color cover their hair with headscarves and handkerchiefs. It was a public social statement that they belonged to the “slave class”, whether they were enslaved or not. It aimed not only to suppress personal expression but also to diminish their visibility, power, and desirability.
Even though this law was a tool designed to shame and silence women of colour, they did not yield. Through acts of quiet rebellion, they transformed these forced coverings into crowns; embellishing them with vibrant fabrics, ribbons, beads, and pins. What was meant to humiliate, became a bold statement of resistance, and beauty.
I felt inspired by the fact that in the face of adversity, it birthed resilience, which ties into the message behind my collection.This body of work is reclaiming that legacy. I paint my ancestors with the freedom they always deserved – with their hair worn with pride and their presence unapologetic. This is not a rewriting of the past, but a reverent honoring of it.
Each piece in this collection is a thank you to those who bore the weight of oppression so I could carry the privilege of self-expression. Their courage gave me a voice.
