Who is the art muse?

Dr. Hotchkins’ favorite doll, who is affectionately named “Blacker Than Me,” is his muse for creating the WITHIN series and My Black is Exhausted book. She has no mouth and her hands are tied. Dr. Hotchkins was told by his Granny Sango “it is your responsibility to be her voice and to fight for her freedom.” He accepted the transgenerational challenge and uses art to do so!

Dr. Hotchkins offers a powerful book that talks about how to tackle racial exhaustion while understanding the value of self-introspection. Specifically, he explores how to be bold when addressing your life challenges. Bryan is known for his stunning wit, approachability, and nerdy humor. But even he has needed to overcome identity-based anxiety. In adjusting to the beginnings of the COVID19 pandemic and repeatedly watching public violence against people of African descent, he realized that internalizing sorrow was unhealthy. Consequently, he began to journal and eight months later My Black is Exhausted. Forever in Pursuit of a Racist-free world Where Hashtags Don’t Exist, was complete.

Understandably, we all experience fear, uncertainty and anxiety concerning our identities, talking about them and the possibility engaging in hostile interactions as a result. Sometimes we are afraid of not having the correct answers, sounding ignorant or being perceived as disinterested. Maybe you want to stand in solidarity with others who have been threatened due to having certain identities, but don’t know how. In order to be whole, we must learn how to deal with our identity-based exhaustion, track it and consider productive ways that are helpful. To admit that you are exhausted is the first step! With transparency and honesty, Dr. Hotchkins walks us through his personal journey while explaining how it prepares others to amplify their voices when experiencing a lack of belonging. The point is to pursue a trauma-free world. This book shows you how to do so and empowers you to do it!