CAC Skylight Gallery: Sex Crimes Against Black Girls

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Inspired by literary critic, Hortense Spillers’ poignant essay, “The Permanent Obliquity of an In(pha)llibly Straight”: In the Time of Daughters and the Fathers” Sex Crimes Against Black Girls investigates the various levels of sexual exploitation and oppression that is suffered by young Black girls across the African Diaspora. Sexual exploitation stemmed in gender oppression is a phenomenon that is generally hidden under a blanket of reticence due to the challenge of addressing issues of sexism under a larger context of racism. This compelling exhibit, gives voices to women who have beared witness to a multitude of sex crimes that have occurred within the global Black community.

These injustices occur on a macro-level, happening in war torn places such as Uganda, where children are forced to take on roles as soldiers and sex slaves. They also occur on a micro-level, within the home where daughters and nieces are confronted by their fathers and male family members in communities such as Brooklyn. The exhibit explores a myriad of themes within the sex crimes umbrella – incest, female circumcision, rape and sex slavery. Serving as a very subjective and personal dialogue for both curator and artist, Sex Crimes Against Black Girls will hopefully serve as a multi-media platform used for dialogue, confrontation and ultimately understanding and healing.