“Once I was in a seminar with the legendary Black American tattooer Jacci Gresham, where she remarked, “Where are all the Black People?!?”
When I used to work in the makeup industry, I saw how the industry catered heavily, sometimes exclusively to people with fair skin. Unfortunately, I have also witnessed those same shortcomings in the tattoo industry. Because tattoos directly deal with skin, this issue must be addressed and discussed.
This blog post is necessary to openly acknowledge that tattooing in the US (and other parts of the world) is often problematic. Like many sectors, it is a microcosm of the bigger societal issue of racism and exclusion. Melanin-rich clients are often precluded from the mainstream of tattooing and are met with prejudice or hostility to their ideas. There is a general lack of photographic representation in portfolios and advertising of deep skin tones.
Too often I have heard stories recounted by clients of color who were discounted, stereotyped, and discriminated against when seeking a tattoo. What’s more, I have heard the negative and inappropriate comments that tattoo artists make to each other about clients with deeper skin tones.
Once I was in a seminar with the legendary Black American tattooer Jacci Gresham and after 20 minutes of photos of tattoos on white people she remarked (politely yet firmly),“where are all the dark skinned people?!? Ms Gresham brought up an issue that was so systemic it was too often ignored. There is a gross lack of representation of tattoos on melanated skin, and therefore an upholding racist ideals within tattooing.
Representation matters. Therefore I have created a requirement for intentional inclusion of deep, brown and highly melanated skin tones with variant undertones in my portfolio. My goal is to have several examples of shade ranges in each of the style categories in my portfolio; this goal is not yet accomplished at the level I intend, but it’s an ongoing bench mark for me.
I strive to be well versed in several techniques in order to provide an array of options for every skin tone. Contact me or schedule a consultation to talk about your idea!