Delphine Fawundu-Buford

With this series I created an interpretation of Nina Simone’s Four Women. Nina Simone’s Four Women speaks to the legacy of slavery and it’s transformation into four archetypes of black women.

This series of self-portraits examines imagery, perceptions and misconceptions of black women in America.



Four Women Lyrics:
My skin is black, my arms are long, My hair is woolly, my back is strong
Strong enough to take the pain, inflicted again and again. What do they call me? My name is aunt Sarah
My name is aunt Sarah, aunt Sarah

My skin is yellow, my hair is long,Between two worlds I do belong, But my father was rich and white
He forced my mother late one night. And what do they call me? My name is Saffronia, my name is Saffronia

My skin is tan, my hair fine
My hips invite you, my mouth like wine. Whose little girl am I? Anyone who has money to buy. What do they call me?
My name is Sweet Thing
My name is Sweet Thing

My skin is brown, my manner is tough. I’ll kill the first mother I see, my life has been rough. I’m awfully bitter these days, because my parents were slaves
What do they call me? My name is Peaches!