This Black History Month, I’m sharing art, songs, movies, and other creative expressions from and about Black women that spark joy for me. Because Black women are often not remembered for their contributions, I thought this would be one way to give flowers to those who influenced me.
For Day 2, I thought I’d spotlight the work of Amy Sherald. Amy did the official portrait of Michelle Obama.
Everything about this portrait is immaculate. Along with the portrait of Barack Obama, this portrait is VERY different from previous portraits of Presidents and First Ladies. It punctuates how different having a Black President and First Lady in the US was. The portrait honors the magnificence of Blackness.
I love this interview where Amy shares how Former First Lady Michelle Obama made her realize she deserved more abundance in her life.
“She validated who I was by choosing me, and I realized ‘I deserve more!’ I think that was it. All of a sudden, I was living out my entitled life… I accepted myself as the way that she saw me.”
When people are undervalued and unseen, as many Black women are, they can start to internalize that the scarcity that surrounds them is a reflection of their value and the value of their work. But as Amy realized, abundance is our birthright.
Thank you to Amy for this beautiful portrait and for reminding us that we deserve more.