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Double consciousness When you’re Black and working in a predominantly White industry, fears of affirming any racial stereotype can create a pervasive, nagging voice inside your head, reminding you to always represent your people well. This hyperawareness of one’s identity as a racial minority in a professional set-
ting makes some Black people question their tone of voice, their hairstyles, their clothing, and more, all in an effort to blend into the majority. This internal battle leaves some people feeling like imposters and others exhausted from the performance. It’s a mistake to think that these things have no impact on design. The truth is, the feeling of being an outsider can creep into a person’s thought patterns, making some designers second-guess their instincts, potentially muzzling them and suppress- ing important contributions and insights.
In his 1903 book, The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. Du Bois explores the concept of Black double consciousness: “It is a pecu- liar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others....One feels his two-ness—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings.” Our identity is abstract and ever-changing. The ways in which we’re shaped by our world can evolve as the world around us changes and we encoun- ter new experiences. What’s important is that as we meet young designers along their journey, we don’t impose antiquated ideas about what it means to make good design, or quiet their instincts to fit our expectations. With diverse representation comes a wealth of experiences and per- spectives that elevate the design industry and the work we put out into the world.
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TEACHING TOOL Inspired by AfriCOBRA, I created this work to show my students how to celebrate urban elements in their work. Design and illustration by Kaleena Sales.