Imagine that! Having the nerve, courage, wisdom or manic tendencies—however you choose to consider the act—to depict God as a Black Woman. Harmonia Rosales, a young Afro-Cuban artist whose paintings are visually breathtaking, has knocked the air out of many who never considered the possibility of God being both Black and a woman. Perhaps that is what makes her work essential and emancipating. At once blasphemous and brutally brave. Rosales has brilliantly gift-wrapped a notion that offends as much as it opens minds to an uncharted way of thinking. Its propensity to open may be what makes the depiction priceless.
Not that simply portraying novel ideas or depicting what seems unreasonable or even outrageous is always a good thing. It isn’t. However, illustrating God as a Black woman presents an opportunity to look, investigate, and determine for one’s self whether or not the newly rendered has value. The responsibility to activate one’s full suite of head, heart, and sensory faculties to discern what is good, right and in keeping with one’s own wellbeing, is called into action. It could serve as a call—as disruptive as it may feel—to a level of self- accountability that requires you to decide what is true and important for you.
Consider Rosales’ work an invitation to mentally flex normal thought patterns in a way that installs Black women inside an ideological sanctuary that stipulates her highest regard. Can’t think of a better time than now to explore Rosales’ work as we enter a holiday season full of religious expressions. Click below to learn and see more.