Opening Reception Sheila Pree Bright: Mothers March On for The Sankofa Project

“Mothers March On photographic project is about Black women who have witnessed the tragic loss of
their children who have fallen to police brutality. The pain of losing a child to senseless violence is
unimaginable, yet this is the reality that too many Black mothers face in our communities. Historically,
Black women have been the backbone of their families, communities, and movements, often carrying the
world’s weight on their shoulders. As a Black woman in America, I recognize the systemic oppression that
has historically affected us. Our gender and race have made us more vulnerable to discrimination and
violence.

This project pays homage to the sacrifices, wisdom, and guidance of Black mothers as nurturers and
protectors who are passing on a legacy of determination and love showing how they are fierce and
tender, protective and vulnerable, and strong and soft. I’m honoring the struggles of Black mothers
celebrating the beauty of their strength and resilience. These mothers continue to march on for Human
rights for their children to bring attention to the urgent need for police reform and the systemic racism that
continues to fuel police brutality against Black bodies since slavery.

In my artistic practice, I aim to shed light on the complexities of our struggle and amplify our voices and
stories, often ignored or silenced, to create art through the lens of the Black gaze to challenge the social
constructs that perpetuate the marginalization of Black women by creating a space for dialogue and
reflection on how Black women have been and continue to be oppressed in America. Hopefully, we can
work towards a more just and equitable society by acknowledging and confronting these issues.” – Sheila Pree Bright

Image: Sheila Pree Bright, 2019 Mothers March On, Archival pigment print, 72” x 55”

Curated by Tierney L. Malone, The Sankofa Project is a multi-year examination of the historical events leading up to our current moment of social unrest and racial reckoning. Beginning with the people and stories that make up our own communities of Houston, this project aims to bring light to the events that have been censored or ignored in historical narratives in order to reinforce the racial oppression of Black Americans.

The Sankofa Project will commission three artists annually to create and present new work that is reflective of their own experience in contemporary America and related to the work of scholars and historians who are leading conversations on race and inequality. The artists’ work will be presented in Lawndale’s east-facing windows on Main Street and accompanied by a podcast and public program to inspire dialogue within our community.

“Sankofa” is the Ghanaian word most commonly translated as “one must acknowledge the past in order to move forward.” Thus, in The Sankofa Project, Malone brings together artists and our community to reflect upon the past, reminding us of the power of art to serve not only as the language of humanity but also its catalyst for change.