Mickalene Thomas

My mother drove a Cadillac Seville, which was like at that time an expensive car. And my mother was taking care of the family in South Jersey, whether it was helping family members out with rent or medical bills or whatever was needed. That's what my mother was doing. At that point, she was involved and engaged to a drug dealer, and then he eventually got caught.

My mother drove a Cadillac Seville, which was like at that time an expensive car. And my mother was taking care of the family in South Jersey, whether it was helping family members out with rent or medical bills or whatever was needed. That's what my mother was doing. At that point, she was involved and engaged to a drug dealer, and then he eventually got caught.

And so I guess at some point, my mother felt the responsibility to maintain things. And so she was selling the drugs with some other people in her life.

And so I guess at some point, my mother felt the responsibility to maintain things. And so she was selling the drugs with some other people in her life.

And so I guess at some point, my mother felt the responsibility to maintain things. And so she was selling the drugs with some other people in her life.

I didn't know any of this until about 12 years ago. So a late adult. Because my mother kept a lot for me and my brother. She even kept the abuse that my father did in their relationship away from me and my brother. She never talked about that.

I didn't know any of this until about 12 years ago. So a late adult. Because my mother kept a lot for me and my brother. She even kept the abuse that my father did in their relationship away from me and my brother. She never talked about that.

I didn't know any of this until about 12 years ago. So a late adult. Because my mother kept a lot for me and my brother. She even kept the abuse that my father did in their relationship away from me and my brother. She never talked about that.

It was devastating at first because I felt like there was a part of my life that was a lie. I didn't understand it. I had to go back in my own mind to try to figure out, but maybe understand why I was very shy to share things.

It was devastating at first because I felt like there was a part of my life that was a lie. I didn't understand it. I had to go back in my own mind to try to figure out, but maybe understand why I was very shy to share things.

It was devastating at first because I felt like there was a part of my life that was a lie. I didn't understand it. I had to go back in my own mind to try to figure out, but maybe understand why I was very shy to share things.

That was my first set of photographs that I did within my class with David Hilliard at Yale University.

That was my first set of photographs that I did within my class with David Hilliard at Yale University.

That was my first set of photographs that I did within my class with David Hilliard at Yale University.

Oh, sexiness, strong, unapologetic, beauty, vigilante, savior, goddess.

Oh, sexiness, strong, unapologetic, beauty, vigilante, savior, goddess.

Oh, sexiness, strong, unapologetic, beauty, vigilante, savior, goddess.

No, she didn't. And I think my mother, although she was very strong, I think unfortunately, uh, Which I think happens to a lot of women who are abused. They're robbed and things are stolen from them. And that's a level of confidence. So it was always manifesting in her life in different ways. And so I don't think she knew how to... get over that.

No, she didn't. And I think my mother, although she was very strong, I think unfortunately, uh, Which I think happens to a lot of women who are abused. They're robbed and things are stolen from them. And that's a level of confidence. So it was always manifesting in her life in different ways. And so I don't think she knew how to... get over that.

No, she didn't. And I think my mother, although she was very strong, I think unfortunately, uh, Which I think happens to a lot of women who are abused. They're robbed and things are stolen from them. And that's a level of confidence. So it was always manifesting in her life in different ways. And so I don't think she knew how to... get over that.