Kiayani Douglas

I. Asking the Question: What Is Antebellum Womanhood? I spent a year asking myself a deceptively simple question: What is “antebellum,” and what does a woman look like inside that word? As an artist committed to socially engaging people in conversation. I found that question shifting from historical curiosity to a deeply personal meditation. After having my first child, my understanding of my identity and my creative practice changed. Motherhood sharpened my sense of lineage and urgency....

Introduction My graduate research focused on the aesthetics of resistance, particularly the cultural impact of Emory Douglas and the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. During this exploration, I encountered the term pacifist in a way that felt both unfamiliar and urgent. The concept took on new meaning as my brother prepared for military service. This prompted a deeper investigation into how Black art, political history, and personal narratives collide. This tension inspired a significant...