jamilah LEMIEUX

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Did the artist consult any actual Black women in preparing this performance? Did he consider how painful that image would be for Black women, particularly survivors of FGM? Why has he spoken of this as an “African” issue, as if Africa is the size of Detroit or as if every nation in the world’s largest continent participates in female circumcision? Was he really trying to inspire global action against FGM, or did he use a Black woman’s plight to shock himself to worldwide notoriety? Why did he use blackface, the very same image of Blackness that has been used to justify inhumane treatment of Black people? Why make a caricature of a Black women to humanize Black women in the face of her dehumanization?