Bee, African-American, is sitting at a table with a black table cloth on top. There is a vibrant blue backdrop behind them. They are leaning on the table looking to the side, applying lipgloss. They are wearing a bright red button on their shirt that says + Enlarge
Bee 2021 Digital Photography 17 x 22 in
John, African-American, is sitting at a table with a black table cloth on top. There is a vibrant blue backdrop behind them. He is holding an old skateboard of his in front of him. The back of the skateboard is shown with multiple scratches from frequent + Enlarge
John 2021 Digital Photography 17 x 22 in
Jordan, African-American, is sitting at a table with a black table cloth on top. There is a vibrant blue backdrop behind her. She is holding a signed ukulele in both of her hands close to the table. + Enlarge
Jordan 2021 Digital Photography 17 x 22 in
Low, African-American, is sitting at a table with a black table cloth on top. There is a vibrant blue backdrop behind them. His head is slightly tilted down and he's looking directly at the camera. He's holding a lightsaber collectable and it is shining r + Enlarge
Low 2021 Digital Photography 17 x 22 in
Reann, African-American, is sitting at a table with a black table cloth on top. There is a vibrant blue backdrop behind her. She is holding an old picture of her, her sibling, mom, and dad in her right hand. The photograph is held close to her face. + Enlarge
Reann 2021 Digital Photography 17 x 22 in
Taco, African-American, is sitting at a table with a black table cloth on top. There is a vibrant blue backdrop behind them. He is holding a Rubik's Cube with the blue and red side showing. He previously solved the Rubik's Cube before the picture was take + Enlarge
Taco 2021 Digital Photography 17 x 22 in
Trinaya, African-American, is sitting at a table with a black table cloth on top. There is a vibrant blue backdrop behind them. She is sitting straight, with her body facing sideways and facing the camera. She is holding aa makeup palette in one hand and + Enlarge
Trinaya 2021 Digital Photography 17 x 22 in
Statement

To grow up as a Black person in America means facing biases and preconceptions that leave little room for one’s identity to be accepted. For a Black person to have any interests outside of what is considered the “norm” for them, can result in them being considered a “white person trapped in a Black person’s body”, simply put an “oreo”. Influenced by personal experiences, “Oreo” challenges the stereotypes that are constantly projected onto Black people and how it can affect their identity. In this project, it was usually experienced during the pre-adolescent/adolescent years. Each participant is photographed with the objects that resulted in them being called an “Oreo,” along with their statement of how the moment happened.

I began this series in 2019, carefully working out every detail for each frame. At the time it was not clear how best to continue the project, but after winning the Women Photograph Project Grant this past summer, I received the encouragement I needed to continue. The “Oreo” series is a project that is culturally and politically relevant since it tackles how Black stereotypes negatively impacts and narrows the vastness of Black identity. The work ultimately challenges the viewer to think about the racial, implicit bias that they hold against Black people in order to spark dialogue about where the bias is rooted.

Photography (BFA) Students