The Negress Digs Up Her Past

"The Negress Digs Up Her Past" delves into Norris's ancestral lineage, highlighting its connection to African Diaspora Religions and the Black Church while exploring her heritage in the Deep South. Through her work, Norris documents her family's Hoodoo traditions, capturing the Elders of her bloodline and the Black Southern community from which she comes. The project reflects on refusals to migrate and examines how the Black Southern landscape and ancient stories shape a family’s contemporary life and engagement with the spirit realm.

"My aim was to capture my Elders, particularly my last living great aunt on my father's mother's side, and the spiritual community from which we are birthed," explains Norris. "Her sudden passing in January halted the project, but it eventually led me to capture everyday moments of Black Southern life and landscapes."

Norris's work is profoundly influenced by Deborah Willis's exploration of African American identity and history through photography, which serves as a guiding influence in Norris's artistic journey. Additionally, Ming Smith's evocative and pioneering imagery of Black life, along with Carrie Mae Weems's critical examinations of race, gender, and society, deeply resonate within Norris's work. These influences converge in "The Negress Digs Up Her Past," creating a visual narrative that honors her heritage and provides a nuanced perspective on contemporary Black Southern experiences.

*All images courtesy of the artist