Mango Mamma (32 5/16" x 29 7/16"; charcoal, graphite, blue stone, colored glass, hand cut felt flowers, acrylic, colored paper, SOLD, In the Collection of Elinor J.  Coleman)

It’s hard to describe my grandma Gloria without talking about her authenticity. I’ve never seen a more consistent person. She reminds me to be who I am.

Raised as an orphan, she adopted Trinidadian culture through her marriage to my grandfather. She would later leave him because of his abusive tendencies but still maintained her kid’s connection to the culture. My first experiences with Trini food were through my grandmother who would make dishes for my father when she came to DC to visit.    

About a year or so ago, one of my cousins sent photos of my grandmother to a group thread. I recall scrolling through the photos while looking at my cousin’s screen name, “Mango Mama”. And all I could think of was how that name seemed so much more appropriate for my grandmother.