"The Birth of the Black Woman" By Tijera S. Williams

This image, of course, is a nod to the world famous Sandro Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" fresco, which depicts the goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth, when she had emerged from the sea fully-frown. This image is infamous to connect to an arrival, christening, and anointing of innocence, love, and femininity.
 

 Historically and throughout the modern era being hyper-sexualized and fetishized in the media and society are a few institutionalized attributes that come associated with being a Black woman. Black women can't always be seen as a young and innocent due to the racially heated social status that we exist in, and what has been instilled for generations. Being forced to grow up too soon and not to ever be introduced to the power she holds from within, "The Birth of the Black Woman" was made to be a confidently oozing call to all women, with self-loving and accepted bodies in tow, denouncing to never be covered up and censored by haters, culture vultures, or even by our own self-iniquities. 
 

 This bright, love letter to a Los Angeles Black queen is a piece to myself and all women to know that they are queens. The piece was birthed with reverence and honor to Yemaya, goddess of the sea, and Oshun, the mother who delivers light and love to all who connect to her. This juxtaposition from anointing innocence and confidence in what historically has not been praised, is why "The Birth of the Black Woman" should be considered the true Venus.