Our journey is deeply personal. “A seat at the table” refers to the idea of having representation and a voice in decision-making processes.
When I was an apprentice, I vividly recall a white man telling me ‘NO.’ I approached a white tattoo artist, and owner, in hopes of receiving training while also getting inked, only to be told verbatim that he “would not teach a Black person, let alone a woman” how to tattoo.
This rejection fueled my determination to seek a welcoming community that would teach, accept, and value my talents, experiences, and perspectives at the highest regard. It was through the guidance of my Tattoo Master - who at the time was reducing wealth disparities to achieve economic justice by creating his own table - that I found my voice and purpose.
Now as an advocate, Isese practitioner, master tattoo artist, Black economics fangirl, and multi-hyphenate creative, what was once anger and frustration has now blossomed into a disruptive platform that organizes and amplifies traditionally marginalized voices in creative and culture industries through documenting effective dialogue, immersive cultural exchange events, and empowering lucrative, transferable skills that serves as a pointed collective shaping a brighter economic future that presses the culture forward. Black Tattoo Anthology is a testament to the transformative power of resilience and solidarity.
