Sound, Silence, and the Black Gaze Morgan Harvey

Walking through the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, I saw paintings and sculptures full of stories, life, death, strength, and dimension.  I went 4 times, and the second time I stood before a beautiful carved woman painting depicting a woman’s profile gazing towards lilies with a mysterious figure above her head, titled “Walk among the Lilies”.  One painting caught my eye and drew me in every time I visited.  Viewing this artwork, what came to mind was dark, monsters, a woman, evil spirits, and shadows of doubt.  The intensity of darkness captures a sense of seriousness.  The texture appeared rough in some areas but smooth, creating dimension.  After my second visit, I understood that this painting is from a Black woman’s point of view, using the Black gaze.  Prophets’ work in my eyes speaks to the concept of Black gaze through the woman’s posture and stillness, focusing on the flowers.  The lilies captivated me, with hues of pink and white, which symbolize femininity, virtue, and admiration.  Prophet’s portrayal of the woman, calm and introspective, reflects the perspective of a Black woman artist reclaiming agency over how Black femininity is seen and understood.  The figure’s posture and stillness convey strength in reflection, inviting the viewer into a moment of contemplation rather than spectacle.

After finding a connection between the painting and Black gaze, I thought of Beverly Daniel Tatum’s essay “The Complexity of Identity: ‘Who Am I?’, which helps deepen my understanding of Prophet’s Walk Among the Lilies.  In this text, Tatum talks about how we see ourselves and how the world sees us through a lens of race, gender, and social expectations.  In this painting, I saw a Black woman facing towards the lilies with what appeared to be a shadowy figure behind her.  The shadowy figure behind her head could represent external voices historically defining Black womanhood through stereotypes, yet she focuses on the lilies, showcasing resistance.  The art visually captures what Tatum was expressing. 

Prophet acts as a teacher, using the painting to share knowledge about Black identity, spirituality, and emotion.  The viewer is the learner, invited to interpret and reflect on what Prophet is trying to betray.  Prophet does not “deposit” one fixed message; instead, she creates a visual dialogue, prompting viewers to engage critically and emotionally.  This exchange is the opposite of the banking education model that we discussed in ADW, rather than directly telling the viewer what to think and the painting’s layered symbolism,  the woman’s calm posture, the lilies representing femininity and renewal, and the shadowy presence above, encourage the viewer to question what identity, spirituality, and Black womanhood mean in a world that often distorts them.

Walk Among the Lilies also speaks powerfully to Diasporan consciousness.  Through this assignment, I also learned the importance of silence.  In FYE, we have been learning how silence can be a form of power that helps us recall memories from the past.  Sitting in silence and viewing Walk Among the Lilies allowed me to connect to what I’ve been learning and issues I’m passionate about, such as the Black gaze.  This activity influenced my goals and aspirations by deepening my understanding of how art and silence can communicate complex histories and emotions.  Viewing Walk Among the Lilies reminded me that advocacy isn’t always about speaking the loudest.  It is about listening and observing because sometimes silence speaks louder than words.  This experience showed me the importance of reflection and empathy in driving meaningful change, especially for communities within the African diaspora.  Through her work, Prophet honors Black women’s spiritual and emotional journeys across the diaspora, affirming that identity is not static but constantly evolving through history, memory, and self-discovery.

Morgan Harvey CO '29