Telling a story of racial and economic oppression in Richmond, Virginia, is one that is complex and dense. This is a subject that has many layers and requires a narrative and design that will allows individuals to peel back each layer in order to digest content, reflection on the content that is given to them, and build community within an active environment. With this idea in mind, I designed a social practice environment that allows visitors to understand the history and current racial and economic oppression faced by African American families in Richmond based on a layering process that is seen within the exhibition, content, environmental graphics, and architectural design of the space.

ME LAN O CYTE: Skin Cells and the African American Experience, is an exhibition that provides visitors with a metaphoric and innovative way of learning the history of enslavement in Richmond and how it has continued to hinder its underserved African American community today, by establishing an environment that is based off of the scientific development of pigmentation and the build-up and breakdown of human skin. Skin will be used as a tool to explore, document history, understand reality, and promote change.