This piece originated from a mythology project designed to help young writers reframe their personal narratives through the lens of myth. My interpretation is based on a story by Deborah Mouton, former Poet Laureate of Houston, featured in her book Black Chameleon. In the short story Blind Woman, a village imposes a harrowing ritual: mothers of daughters must blind their children by the age of three.

These mothers, already blind themselves, spend their daughters’ early years preparing them—teaching them how to navigate the world before darkness sets in.

Drawing from that myth, I created this work to explore the complexities of motherhood: the strength it requires, the fears it holds, and the emotional labor of guiding a child into an uncertain future.

The escalator-throat symbolizes the impact of a mother’s voice—the ability to uplift or diminish through words alone. The eyes, modeled after Rihanna and Beyoncé, highlight how Black women are often hypersexualized and objectified, rendering their deeper value invisible in the eyes of society.

The concrete heart stands for the enduring strength and unconditional love of a mother. At the center of the piece, a black figure of a mother guides her daughter—both literally and symbolically.

In the lower right corner, the Jordan 10 calls attention to how consumer culture shapes our values. It suggests that the direction we provide our children means far more than the material things we give them.