The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) today announced the opening of a unique art installation at the Empire State Plaza concourse to celebrate Black History Month. The exhibit intentionally focuses on the creativity, beauty, dignity and inventiveness of Black joy, rather than framing its view on the history of Black pain and trauma or narratives of resilience. 

The exhibit, titled “How Beautiful I Am”: Black, Beyond Spectacle, is a collection of art, poetry and presentations created by youth who reside at OCFS facilities. The pieces will be on display Feb. 18-28.

“Black history is American history, and it is more than depictions of struggle, more than the deep history of harm done to Black people and communities,” said OCFS Acting Commissioner Suzanne Miles-Gustave. “This display is an extension of OCFS’ commitment to utilize a racially conscious lens when supporting our communities. I’m extremely proud of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) and its supportive staff, who provide life-changing enrichment programs for youth in our care. These works clearly show the talent within each and every youth, as well as how they use their creativity as an expression of critical thinking. The pieces not only reflect the benefit youth receive from our enrichment programs but are a symbol of how deeply staff engage with youth to spur mindfulness about important concepts and build self-confidence, critical thinking and creativity.” 

DJJOY Deputy Commissioner Felicia A. B. Reid, and Angelica Kang, OCFS’ Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer, conceived of the show after discussing the ways in which past agency Black History Month celebrations did not center youth contributions or perspectives. Reid said: “When it comes to honoring Black history, disruption is important. So is spotlighting youth voices and giving them the freedom to think critically about past and present. The wonderful works in the show come out of a single question: What would a celebration of Black history look like if it wasn’t centered on depictions of Black pain and trauma?”

Reid noted that media depictions of Black history can frequently focus only on the harm to Black communities caused by the racism embedded in past and present institutions. “Those narratives can be half stories, and it’s always worth interrogating that lens. This exhibit is not about ignoring that pain or substituting one reality for another. Like the Langston Hughes poem, “I, Too,” that gives the show its title, the exhibit is about choices of inclusion and exclusion. In How Beautiful I Am, youth expand representations of Black experience, providing context beyond a single narrative. Through this project, they portray Black people and communities in whole and as complete. That is the cause for celebration.”

The youth who created the works have been removed from their communities and placed in OCFS custody through the juvenile justice system. Reid added, “People make many assumptions about the youth that DJJOY serves. I think that’s because it’s easy to judge them for being involved in that system, and so, keep them at arm’s length. By doing that, their ingenuity, individuality, creativity and intelligence go unrecognized, often undervalued. But these young people are incredible, and they are powerful creators. They chose what these works would be, supplied only with a single question and the support and talent of DJJOY staff.”

A digital gallery of “How Beautiful I Am” is available at: https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/news/events/bhm/2023/