Photograph - by Shaquona Espinoza

Shaquona Espinoza is an artist and Western Michigan University social work student who was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. Shaquona started painting in 2018 focusing on the simplicity of nature. She then transitioned to black and white photography in 2019 and is currently focused on the intertwining of both art and social justice.

 

Instagram @quonaesp_art

Facebook @ Shaquona Espinoza

 

For artist Shaquona Espinoza, photography is used to depict the reality of the negative effects of colorism in the Black Community. As someone who is a light skinned Black woman, she decided to use her privilege to focus on the internalized racism, criminalization and dehumanization that happens to darker skinned men and women. Before taking photos, Shaquona talked with people within her community to share their truth about their realities with colorism. When taking these photos, she decided to deface each of her subjects so that it can uphold its relatability to individuals within the Black community.

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