Kimberly Angelica Barnes

PTSD, depression, anxiety. These states of being aren’t the least bit new nor are they compelling topics on their own. I am, however, still drawn to my mission of intimately understanding the innate, primal reactions of fear and anxiety in order to better comprehend how they’ve managed to take hostage of my life. I believe there is a lot to be gained from dwelling in all aspects of the human psyche; in doing so, people are better equipped with understanding themselves and those around them - acknowledging the very real fact that so many people live in fear: refugees, abuse survivors, people of color, the list unfortunately goes on.

My work isn’t centered entirely around blackness despite using several elements and references to it. Personally, my own blackness has been a contributing factor to my sadness, especially as of late. From current events to persistently damaging stereotypes that run rampant, the collective mental health of people of color has suffered. I obviously cannot speak for everyone but I can attest to experiencing an overwhelming sense of sadness and isolation due to these harmful misconceptions, especially for someone in my situation who lacks the emotional and financial support system of a family.