The Undeniable Blackness Between Us
Statement
INTRODUCTION:
I was born in 1976 to a white mother and black father. I have never met my biological father. Once Lost Now Found: One-Drop of Blood Between Us is a body of work about my missing biological father.
RACIAL IDENTITY:
When I conceptualize racial identity, I think about how we see ourselves (self-identify) and how others perceive our identities. I self-identify as black in America for several reasons including racial pride; DNA results; American History; the “one-drop of blood rule;” and white racism. However, my perceived racial identity has always been fluid and dynamic because of the way I look. My racial identity is often a question for others. I will sometimes pass as white and gain entry to an unfiltered white world. This is often where I get to listen in on how some people really feel about People of Color.
EXPLORING:
I often feel out of place and excluded within majority white, and black, spaces because of the way my racial identity is perceived as a light-skinned bi-racial black man. What I have experienced is that I do not fit neatly into white culture or black culture but rather rest in the middle. Exploring this “in between” space has been the major focus of my creative work.
60/40:
I participated in genetic testing a few years ago because I was curious about my background. I have lived as a light-skinned black man my whole life. What did my genes say about who I thought I was? My results came back as roughly 60% European and 40% Sub-Saharan African. It was through this genetic testing site that I found a half-sister on my father’s side. I reached out immediately.
ONE OF ELEVEN:
I found a sister through DNA testing. What I learned from her is that my biological father’s name is James Edward Peters and I am one of eleven kids. James is a black man serving time in an Alaskan prison. He was arrested in 2016 for pedophilia and several other charges related to his life decisions. After 47-years of wondering, I have finally found my biological father.
PROCESSING:
The subsequent paintings are the beginnings of finding out about these ten new siblings and my biological father. I hope to learn something about myself along this journey. I have much work to do and this is only the beginning.