What Is A Rough Face? interrogates the tension and physical violence inflicted upon Black women as they navigate society under the crushing grip of misogynoir. As a Black woman, there are ways in which the projection of sexuality, being a woman, and being Black are contested with deep scrutiny by society in ways that no other identity is examined. The tapestries of What is a Rough Face? visually chronicle how elements of discrimination including tension, physical and emotional violence, and conformity. I focused on developing a visual language to represent the strife and hardship of the Black woman’s harsh reality in America when faced with colorism, sexism, and other factors that contribute to the perpetuation of misogynoir. Though I am still learning ways to move throughout society, these tapestries serve as a glimpse into the times in which I have taken a step back and examined my own encounters, and sat with the degradation. These tapestries serve as a textural display of the aftermath of the visceral disdain within society for Black women.
