No Woman is an island

Works by Da’Shaunae Marisa Jackson

From the Artist:

Growing up I felt isolated. I felt my family was isolated. Just the three of us alone in this big world and I wanted to know why? I knew my family had problems but I did not know how deep those problems ran. My journey towards reconnection came from the desperation of witnessing my mother struggle with fleeting moments of happiness. After years of no contact no one knew that "cancer" would be the reason for an overdue reunion. Then like a wave of overwhelming relief, everything was back to normal with the exception of the dreaded inevitable. As a family reborn we spent our time basking in the present. Now is all that we have nothing else. I continued to ask how did we get here & could it have been prevented?

May 5th, 2020 was the day my mother passed away at the age of 49 just one month before her 50th birthday. My mother and those that knew her would agree she lived a typical lifestyle and yet cancer crept in without a sound. Cancer can be considered a "lifestyle" disease. Lifestyle diseases characterize those diseases whose occurrence is primarily based on the daily habits of people and are a result of an inappropriate relationship of people with their environment. African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the US for most cancers. This project is here to take a deeper look into the connection of how diet, mental health, & socio economics play a factor in the destruction of African American health in a systemically oppressive society.

On view in Cleveland Print Room’s Gallery, 2550 Superior Ave, through Saturday, July 24. Gallery Hours: 12-6pm Tuesdays, 12-9pm Wednesdays, 12-6pm Thursdays, 12-6pm Fridays, 11am-2pm Saturdays, 11-4pm Sundays.

Gallery images taken by David Joseph.