Black Tom

Ancestry: Yat'siminoli / Wayuu / Black
Based In: Portland, OR
Email: markaherrera2@gmail.com
Social Media: @markanthony195

About the Art
Duality is a necklace that features several strands of dentalium shells, adorned with African trade beads. In conjunction with this necklace is attached as a literary manifestation of this piece in the form of poetry.
Composed in a layer of five strands, the art work physically represents Black and Indigenous Unity. Through the union between African trade beads and dentalium, one can see that physical alliance. Black and Indigenous peoples have both felt historical trauma, and it is only a matter of time when we truly recognize one another. The blue and white color palette represents the irregularity on how Black and Indigenous peoples came into their current states of being in the colonial system in which they live in today. The blue represents the waters that the beads had to cross along with the people to get to the United States. The white dentalium represents the Indigenous peoples who have been here long before the white man.
The goal of this piece is to encourage critical thinking on how much we, as Native peoples, are interconnected with our Black brothers and sisters. Some of our most prized beads were crafted by African hands. This realization must be pulled to the forefront of Native artistry.

About the Artist
Black Tom was born under a fall moon in Miami, Florida. However, Black Tom was raised in both Clewiston and Overtown. A mix of reservation and urban experiences run through his veins. Currently, he is based in Portland, Oregon. Black Tom is a proud graduate of the Howard University class of 2019. He also interns for the Native American Arts and Culture Foundation supporting office administration efforts.