We Are Living - Ceramic Senior BFA Show
"We endure those cuts in so many ways that we don’t even know we’re cut,” - "We are living with small tiny cuts, and we are bleeding every single day. ""And we’re still getting up.”-Michelle Obama
When Michelle Obama said these words, she was talking about the experiences of women, and in particular women of color, but I believe that she, as someone who has been a champion of diversity, equality, and inclusion broadly defined, also was talking about the kinds of experiences I have. These words resonated with me. They made me think about my own cuts, the cuts that I sometimes pretended didn’t hurt, or that I tried not to feel, or even those I didn’t realize were cuts until later when I saw the scars. Those cuts do hurt but it is something that I learned to put aside and not feel. The cuts are still there after years of doing their damage. Even though they have been there for a while they still hurt when certain issues and situations arise. Being able to put them aside helps me get back up like nothing was wrong or nothing happened, so that unless you paid attention you wouldn’t have noticed that something was wrong.
What helps is the armor that I have created within myself that holds me together. Even though you cannot see it, the armor is there, as a bandage, protecting myself from other forms and obstacles that cut me throughout my life. The armor is something that I have gotten better at perfecting throughout the years. This armor takes different shapes and forms but in the end I see it as a shield and holder that has become one with me.
At the end of it all I am still living with my own cuts and getting up just the same as everyone else.
