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CREATING SPACE for Black Joy
PHOTOS by Jacobsen Valentine, a photographer, chef & social activist In Portland Oregon.
This project explores the myths, stereotypes and self-acceptance strategies of Black Portlanders. Click to enlarge the pics, read their "gap" story & their photos!
This photo-based project honors the natural gap between our teeth, which in medical terms is called "diastema." While some were encouraged to close our gaps with braces to avoid teasing and public shaming, some African countries see the gap as a sign of beauty. Nigerians, for example, pay thousands of dollars to file a gap into their front teeth as a fashion statement (see VIDEO).
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