A monologue written and performed by Christa Brown from Leta Harrison's photography exhibit, "Black Girls Don't Wear Red Lipstick", at the George Washington Carver Museum.

Black Girls Don't Wear Red Lipstick was inspired by a symposium on the intersection of fashion and resistance presented by multi-disciplinary artist, activist, and lead singer of The Suffers, Kam Franklin. During her talk, the artist shared story after story where she was urged "tone down" her style,  advised to "dress her body,"  and informed that "Black girls don't wear red lipstick." These experiences resonated with photographer Leta Harrison (b. 1981) and helped birth a new body of work.




This visual essay series is dedicated to all Black women and girls who are admonished for being bold and living authentically. Captured in both intimate and public spaces, the artist explores the societal constructions that seek to diminish and police every facet of the Black female body. Harrison's work is a joyous battle cry for all women to meet themselves and each other through everyday resistance.

George W. Carver

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