I have had this image in my head since I saw Mz. Badu accept the ICON Billboard award. When I saw the art piece she was wearing… i knew she fell nothing short of the title!!!

I remember when “Baduizm” came out and i saw this beautiful, statuesque black woman, adorned in beads and jewels with a gorgeous headwrap… all black and proud. My eyes lit up! I listened to her album and was enraptured by the smooth rhythm and blues, the soul, and the prophetic words. I was PAINFULLY shy. I remember visiting gram in NY and being put on the spot. I sang with my back turned, but I sang! In my early thirties, i joined a band and guess what?! We sang “Orange Moon,” and this time, I faces the front (nervous as ever), but I did it!

I later saw a magazine article of Badu’s home. It wasnt the typical, Hollywood aesthetic. It was earthy. In her yard she had bathtubs… BATHTUBS where she grew food!!! I was in awe! And a doula!!! Bringing life into this world. A gal can only aspire to be a tribe leader like that!

And when I saw this masterpiece adorning her body, I knew exactly what it stood for and my heart melted. The beauty of art is that it can be left up to the beholders’ interpretations… and there were many (sideeye). But I knew. And ultimately I had this image in my head that I had to get out before it just sat in my brain (like a lot of my ideas).
 
Prints in 8.5" x 11"