Source: Jahkima Cuencas Clarke / Jahkima Cuencas Clarke
Never underestimate the power of a woman. Thanks to a group of tenacious, determined ladies from the National Women’s History Project, they petitioned to change Women’s History Week to Women’s History Month. In 1987, congress passed Pub. L. 100-9, which designated March as a celebratory month of all things powerfully female.
Thirty-six years later, we’ve watched women dominate in sports, music, acting, comedy, fashion and more. As they lead and inspire us to stretch and discover our greatest potential, we also know that women, specifically Black women, have inconceivable hurdles to jump over, simply because of the color of their skin.
Despite the hurdles to success, Black women are winning. Meet Francesca Andre; mother, celebrity photographer, and overall magical being. The Haitian immigrant tells stories by capturing joy, beauty, and pain through images. “A major responsibility I have is staying true to my identity as a creative individual and Black woman storyteller,” she tells us in an exclusive interview.
Andre is the photographer behind various magazine covers and fashion spreads, including her most recent masterpiece, Naturi Naughton-Lewis for Elements Magazine. When the multifaceted talent isn’t capturing the essence of a woman with her camera, she’s pouring into herself and her family.
“Over the past few years, my story has undergone significant changes. My primary focus now is being a healthy, nurturing mom to my son, which also involves caring for myself,” she said.
“As a Haitian immigrant and dreamer, I carry more than just my own aspirations and stories, and it’s become clear to me that it’s my spiritual responsibility to help bring them to reality. It can be challenging to balance the art of surviving, providing, hustling, and overcoming, and at times, even breathing can feel difficult. But in the midst of grieving, healing, recreating, and…
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