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I WILLoughBy My Own Actions, 2018, Digital Photographs
This piece reflects on the origins of my name. The first member of my family to have “Willoughby” in their name was Thomas Willoughby born in 1632. Throughout my family tree the name was passed down becoming a first-name to a handful of men many of which were enslavers. I chose to focus on my name which is uncommon and old, in an effort to visualize the ways in which the actions of our ancestors are inherently linked to our present and to acknowledge accountability. The pun at the bottom of the pillowcase “ I may bare his name but I WILLoughBy My Own Actions” seeks to add levity and complicate the serious tone of the piece, aware that the analysis of one name can not undo the injustices of the past.