I am an artist whose intention is to share untold stories. 

When I was a child,  The Princess and the Frog was released and had a profound impact on me. It was the first time I had seen someone who looked like me, with a similar cultural background up on the big screen. I am Creole, specifically from Louisiana, on my maternal side. As I grew older, Tiana’s story began to trouble me. It was chocked full of sadness, blistering work, not much hope for her dreams, and the infamous “knight in shining armor” that would ‘rescue’ her instead of supporting her to make her dreams come to life. Apart from all this, her dreams were never as lofty as the other Disney princesses who aimed for peace, living a life of adventure and knowledge, self-expression, love, etc. Tiana wanted a restaurant where she could cook every night. 

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I want to show all the children who look like me that it is truly possible to be on the big screen and to prioritize your well-being before others. Growing up, I wasn’t really comfortable expressing myself. There never felt there was room for me to be unapologetically me. There wasn’t much understanding of my personal expression or search for my growing voice. In many of my classes, I was told to be quiet and take up less space. In other classes, I wasn’t loud enough and didn’t take up enough space to stay in accelerated math because the boys and girls spoke over me. It felt as if nothing I did was right or good enough. My work highlights the things that continue to go unnoticed, unheard, and silenced in our black community.

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In high school, I became more involved with social justice, political work, and activism. Growing up, my parents always made sure I was aware of topics of race and the issues in the world pertaining to it, especially since I was the only Black girl in my grade. During COVID, it was really difficult for me after the death of George Floyd and specifically Ma’Khia Bryant. I remember watching the video of a girl who looked like me, was the same age as me, and was wearing the same Crocs as me. It truly broke me. I sought ways to process and find peace with this unimaginable loss. I dedicated myself to the voices and protection of girls who look like me. I needed to be that voice. I want to be the one who finally makes us feel seen, safe, and loved. 

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I enjoyed movie marathons with my mom watching black characters in Love Jones, Boyz n the Hood, Waiting to Exhale, and The Best Man. I was thirteen years old when I first watched these films and realized my identity within the different spaces of my life. I longed for the innate feelings of being a part of the Black community – the love, the support, and the ease of it. Watching films like these gave me those feelings. They made me feel a part of something that was lacking within the environments I am in. 

I have devoted myself to telling stories to create a safe space for all who look like me. I want to give those who feel alienated or alone a place to feel that community, support, and strength are their birthright. These films gave me that space and allowed me to find my voice and power within it—a place without any limits or bounds. I found a home within it, and I know I belong. It is my intention to use the medium of film to amplify the voices of those who are not ready to speak up yet. I want to tell their stories because how they feel still exists within me.