This series deals with the topic of black sacrifice for white comfort and advancement. In doing that it also raises questions of superiority, race, relationships, and mental health.
Allocating Nutrients, Part I
2020
Resin, acrylic paint, plastic babies, baby bottles
7.5"x 4.5"x 2"
During the 17th century, wet nursing by slaves became “an excuse for many white mothers to avoid breastfeeding with hopes of maintaining their stature and avoiding the “messy” part of motherhood.” The practice was popularized in part to the fact that “children of slaves grew healthy while many white families lost their children to ill health.” Slaves were forced by their white mistress to breastfeed “white babies at the expense of theirs”. Most slave mothers, in an effort to save their children, would give them concoctions they thought were “good substitutes for milk” along with “cow milk and dirty water”.
Source - https://face2faceafrica.com
Allocating Nutrients, Part II (Blood Milk)
2020
Wooden logs, acrylic paint, led lights, open led sign
8"x 8.5"x 20"
"The enslaved wet nurses were rejected by their husbands especially after the death of their own [children]." Consequently, these women were more vulnerable to the common practice of rape at the hands of slave masters and their sons. "A few women continued wet nursing after slavery had been abolished. Though they were discouraged continuously , they did the job in secret and earned more than self employed freed slaves and butlers. They were often called prostitutes or shameless women."
Source - https://face2faceafrica.com