Who Do You Think You Are?

A book I designed and hand-bound, featuring a New York Times article by Wesley Morris on the shifting racial, sexual, and social identities within modern America. 

I was struck by the upbeat tone Morris used to define our progress, hailing a surge in depictions of the underrepresented in pop culture as a great leap away from our storied past. I chose to include selected lyrics from contemporary rappers and 20th century singers that highlight the enduring plight of African Americans in this country and call the premise of Morris' "new" America into question. Their words spell out a story contrary to Morris’, suggesting that there is still a disconnect between between America’s perceived progress and the lived reality of black Americans.