iantheism

|H E R| Since my mother has been here visiting me, I have begun thinking about how much we have been through together! And why she is both my mother and my bestfriend. Moving to Houston when I was four-years old, we’d moved in and out of homeless shelters until I was 12 yrs old due to shifts in life/circumstances, unemployment, being without a car for two-years, being classified as low-class due to income-ratio & debt, and living life under a single parent household. But, one thing remained true, I always knew mommy was going to come home, I always knew that no matter what, as long as we had each other, I had zero to worry about. She never chose a man over me. She never chose a career over me. She never chose HERSELF over me. She created security, trust, and love for me, that showed me how to live –God’s way. As I look over the lifetime I have spent with this beautiful and immaculate creation of divine artistry, I weep in my seat because what about me, made me so deserving to be granted a mother who has been truly the definition of SELFLESSNESS? Out of all the pain and heartache in this world that normally occurs during childhood, I was shielded from all of that and given stability, security, self-worth, self-esteem, and value, all manifested through my mother. Although we had lights turned off or car issues or money shortages or food stamps or other things, we had each other's’ love and each other to depend on with the center being God and look at us now. Stronger than ever. People literally tell her how great of a job she did with raising me and commend her so much. Everything I am, was learned by watching her and now that I am twenty-five, my sincerest hope and prayer is that I can raise children that think the same thing about me. That thought just causes me so much pause. . . Her: [Doretha A. Duncan; my mother, my sister, my best friend —her life story is to come] (at Monterey, California)

|H E R| Since my mother has been here visiting me, I have begun thinking about how much we have been through together! And why she is both my mother and my bestfriend. Moving to Houston when I was four-years old, we’d moved in and out of homeless shelters until I was 12 yrs old due to shifts in life/circumstances, unemployment, being without a car for two-years, being classified as low-class due to income-ratio & debt, and living life under a single parent household. But, one thing remained true, I always knew mommy was going to come home, I always knew that no matter what, as long as we had each other, I had zero to worry about. She never chose a man over me. She never chose a career over me. She never chose HERSELF over me. She created security, trust, and love for me, that showed me how to live –God’s way. As I look over the lifetime I have spent with this beautiful and immaculate creation of divine artistry, I weep in my seat because what about me, made me so deserving to be granted a mother who has been truly the definition of SELFLESSNESS? Out of all the pain and heartache in this world that normally occurs during childhood, I was shielded from all of that and given stability, security, self-worth, self-esteem, and value, all manifested through my mother. Although we had lights turned off or car issues or money shortages or food stamps or other things, we had each other's’ love and each other to depend on with the center being God and look at us now. Stronger than ever. People literally tell her how great of a job she did with raising me and commend her so much. Everything I am, was learned by watching her and now that I am twenty-five, my sincerest hope and prayer is that I can raise children that think the same thing about me. That thought just causes me so much pause. . . Her: [Doretha A. Duncan; my mother, my sister, my best friend —her life story is to come. Do you believe she’s almost 60yrs old?] #storytellingphotography (at Monterey, California)

|F R E E| I think it’s all about being free. Being free enough to not only enjoy life, but to enjoy the life you were given; without the need nor the desire to insert yourself inside somebody else’s. It’s about recognizing that no matter how much you try to compare your life to somebody else’s, the journeys will never be the same; and that fact should allow you to rest easy. I have to constantly remind myself to focus on the moment of my life and realize all the experiences I’ve shared in and how many more experiences there are to come. In a digital age where everyone can be bought and sold; I constantly cleanse my instagram and who I decide to follow. I’ve realized that I only want to follow people who inspire me to create different realities inside my own and people who inspire me to be a better human-being, capable of using all my gifts and talents to pass on that inspiration! If at any point I’m following someone and I feel bad or I feel like I should be experiencing their journey instead of my own; I unfollow because that’s not what the focus should be. Embrace you. Embrace your life. Follow people who inspire you to live more. Create a reality that is centered around what you want. And the you that YOU WERE MEANT TO BE! #l̴̅͑͗͐̈́͊̽̊̊̓̇̐͒̀͌̇̌̽̄̽̏̌͛̔̅̅̉̒̊̆͗͊͒͋̽̀̀̌̓̏̋̃̂̅̈͂̐̽͑͐̈́̓͊̑̊̈́̿̓͌̂̒͂̅͆̏͗́̈́͑̋̂̐͋̓͌̅̀͋̂̋͛̏́͑́̉̂̍̈́͊͊͘͘͘̕͝͝͝͠͝͝͝͝͝͠ #Escape 💫 (at San Jose, California)

| G I N N Y | She came. She saw. She’ll be back. . . She: @ginnyandjuiceee [collab of iPhonexVscoCam—getting back into photography & finding my style] #vscocam #shotoniphone (at Monterey, California)

La misma historia pero un diferente chica. Me gusto mi vida porque siempre está cambiando y me encanta la aventura. Quiero todos, but I know this year of 2018, I want to merge more of my creative projects with my profession & manifest every talent & interest God’s put in heart. —Implementing it all 🎇🎇🌃🌉 #vscocam (at San Francisco, California)

Last night the women of @miisafricannations got an opportunity to lift our voices and read excerpts from different African Women authors. The experience was mesmerizing because we got a chance to have an open dialogue about being Black, about being African, about learning about both sides of the identities we share. What a beautiful experience to be apart of a rich body of young Black, intelligent, Masters Degree-seeking women who are filled with passion for their African heritage, changing the world, and who don’t shy away from utilizing the power of their blackness! We all wore head wraps and there is such power and a way that makes you lift your head and feel like the royalty you are when you wear a head covering. Forcing people to see you without distraction. Ya tú sabes; nosotros negritas ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🙌🏾👌🏾 #vscocam (at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey)

Soy 25 años. Soy fuerte. Soy negrita. Soy cristiano. Soy el mundo. Soy un estudiante. Soy apasionado. Soy creativo. Soy me. Soy Ianthe. Bienvenido a mi. S/O to mi hermana Lauren (@lohoww ) for these beautiful earrings from her travels in Perú (te quiero) (at Monterey, California)

¡feliz mes negro de la historia! mi abuelito cubano, Victor y yo en Santiago de Cuba. cuando me vio, en inglés dijo “your skin. The Black is good. I’m 68yrs old and the black is good.” (Cuba inspired me to speak more more more español.) This photo was taken at a block party in Santiago de Cuba and we were surrounded by melanin. Speaking Spanish, trying to speak English, didn’t matter that blackness bonded our ease of comfort and communication. He told me I was his family and before I left that night, he wanted to take this photo. He and a few other young girls I’d been talking to gave me their information & phone numbers too. They said to comeback soon. He said we need to take this photo so I wouldn’t forget him. And forget you I won’t ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 #HappyBlackHistoryMonth (at Santiago de Cuba, Cuba)

Museo de revolución. Previously Batista’s mansion/home, overthrown by the revolution and repurposed into a museum to commemorate the revolution, keep it alive, and tell the story of how Cuba had been changed forever. Remnants of Fidel are everywhere. The sheer amount of pride that’s here to say your Cuban. . . priceless. Oh how blessed, honored, and favored by God I feel. #nofilter Cuba got me. Cuba mi amor y Cuba mi aliento. (at Museo De La Revolution)

Vive #revolucion (at Havana, Cuba)

It’s the third day of the new year and I’m excited for the adventure that awaits. It was over a year ago that I fell madly in love with Celia Cruz and over two years that I began researching Cuba’s Revolutionary history; political and economic. But God knows the plans he has for me and today I’m boarding a plane to Cuba to study those very things. As an added bonus I’ve been contracted by my university @middleburyinstitute to document the experience by way of my photography & videography work. This is an opportunity of a lifetime! —Also, I dig my passport photo. It looks like a revolutionist mug shot. I’m honored. “Tattoos on my passport, no sleep,” - [if you know some things I should check out in Cuba let me know] (at Havana, Cuba)

Christmas is about acknowledging the Jesus in our lives, but also make sure to embrace and capture all the moments. Mi prima Camrey @afromexx said life is a gift 🎄🌝#vscocam (at Houston, Texas)

Night time for me is often a vibrant mix of trying to do homework and engaging in creative thought. My brain tends to become more actively creative when I’m trying to focus on writing a policy memo, deciding how to interpret data through ANOVAu or thinking of policy recommendations that would help increase Cuba’s GDP in agricultural exports. However, it is during those moments my brain releases every creative thought it surpressed while I was at school. This photo was taken during a moment of creative thought. I questioned God about how I would channel my creative thoughts into my field of International Policy + Development; while utilizing vizual mediums, story telling, writing, fighting against white supremacy ideology + its influences, and using my voice of authority to make people listen. This is what He spoke into my spirit: “Seek Truth. Speak Truth. Tell Truth. Always.” —And I entend to do just that. #ANewVision #Musing (at Monterey, California)

As I reminisce on San Diego. I think of the joy that overtakes me when I find other black people; especially at a graduate school such as @middleburyinstitute (where that demographic is often lacking). But I find it to be amazing how no matter where we are as black people, we will seek either other out and I think if we ever cease to seek each other out —where would we go from here? There’s nothing quite like being able to fully express your frustrations in a space, full of total agreement, without the need for explanation. Feeling blessed to have found these amazing women: Kimani, Shinae, & Quel. Thanks for letting me capture the souls of black folk 💫 (at Spanish Village Art Center - Balboa Park)