“Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? Who taught you to hate the race that you belong to?… You should ask yourself who taught you to hate the being what God made you?” - Malcolm X

When we are taught black history, we are mainly taught about slavery and the oppression of African Americans. But what about those stories that empower African Americans and set a precedent for youth today to learn from? “More Than My Skin” focuses on how self-hate and representation affect the development of black youth and cause trauma in young adults. Through art and historic imagery, this project will help black youth and young adults to re-evaluate their own self-identity.

This project is a retreat and memorial that acts as a sanctuary for the black youth and young adults of New York. It allows them to leave with a toolkit to be mentally and emotionally safe in the world and feel empowered. It is a place where they can continue or start to love the skin they are in and understand that they are more than just their color.