A portrait of a young Black girl standing against clouds. On top of her hat sits a vintage Black couple cake topper, found in an antique store. Alongside them, two figurines of Black boys eating watermelon turned gold, representing the Black family in a celebratory light. The hat itself, loosely inspired by the church hats worn by my grandmother and aunts, is also reminiscent of a crown.

Digitally superimposed onto the hat as brooches are two historical references: a 16th-century cameo bust of an African boy (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/198288) and the face from the bust of an African princess mantel clock by Jean-Baptiste-André Furet, ca. 1784 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/202227) positioned as sacred symbols of history and legacy, rather than ornaments.

Hand-stitched directly onto the photograph, golden botanical motifs with stems decorate the lower part of her hat, symbolizing growth and legacy.