Numerous research studies and reviews have shown that Black children are more likely to experience complications during surgery, receive lower-quality pediatric care, and be perceived as having a higher pain tolerance than their non-black counterparts. These disparities are partially a result of the adultification bias that countless Black youth face. Adultification refers to the perception that kids, Black children in particular, are more mature and “stronger” than their non-black counterparts. My goal is to further explore and challenge the mechanisms through which adultification and such healthcare disparities persist. 

I utilize visual art in particular because of its ability to memorialize and function as a literal mode of visibility. More specifically, instead of contributing to the trauma associated with healthcare and adultification, I depict imagery that actively counteracts and dismantles these narratives. In this piece, the two most paramount elements are ambiguity and the theme of youth. In conjunction, these components function as a mode of protection, and consequently, empowerment of Black children. 

The piece is intentionally sparse regarding the information that it provides to the viewer, which fosters security for the young subjects. This is accomplished as the location of the girls is uncertain, and their identities are unknown. As a result, the autonomy of Black bodies, which has been stripped away through instances such as the Tuskegee experiment and founding of gynecology, is restored. Although their bodies are on display, it is vital to note that they are not exploited. Instead, the viewer must diligently work to fill in the voids left by the piece’s vagueness. Consequently, the weight that many Black youth will carry due to medical trauma is flipped. This shift is liberating because it allows the subjects to simply exist.

Moreover, the youthful attire of the children allows them to reclaim their innocence. The girls are wearing matching outfits, resembling a school uniform. Their hairstyles consist of ponytails and intricate braids, adorned with a variety of accessories, such as beads and barrettes, which are a seemingly essential aspect of Black girlhood. These factors are not only a reference to but also a proxy for the frivolity that Black children are deprived of. 

In closing, my painting is meant to demonstrate that Black children, along with their innocence and pain, deserve to be seen.