Corduroy

Mixed Media.

the story behind the art: Corduroy is a staple of my American childhood and early adulthood. I loved the children’s book Corduroy when Mrs Lundt read it to our kindergarten class. I fell in love with the story and with front load washers and dryers instead of hearing Nigerian proverbs spoken by my elders. Corduroy jumpers and pants were favorites of mine as a child and in my teens. Sadly, I wore out my favorite super-soft corduroy pants in my sophomore, or junior year, at Texas A&M University. I digress. Though I loved my corduroy clothing, I never had the chance to complain of dressing in the traditional bomba of Benin or the agbada of Nigeria. I surely would have rebelled against it as a teenager since I’ve never enjoyed dressing up. My Blackness reflects my West African heritage and my American-ness. I am a vibrant piece of corduroy. I don’t have to choose.