Inspired by Black slaves who would use their hair to braid maps as a directional tool to help them find their way to freedom. This made me curious about the emotions slaves must have felt in the moment they had to make their decision to risk their lives to escape to freedom.

One particular slave stood out to me: Harriet Tubman. Seeing as she was nicknamed Moses, which is my birth name, I wanted to explore the reason why.

I then looked to the Bible, particularly within the story of Moses and the Burning Bush for guidance. Within this story, I realized that when God came to Moses, God put Moses at a crossroads between following his destiny or choosing to stay comfortable. His destiny being risking his life in order to usher the Israelites to freedom, or comfort in that he could continue to be a shepherd.

African slaves, like Moses were at a crossroads that put them in a state of fear, worry, and confusion. And upon being at that crossroads, they had to take “A Leap of Faith” in order to be in alignment with God’s destiny for their lives. But taking that leap is terrifying, it’s confusing, and you really only get one shot.

But what if you take that leap, and things don’t work out?

As a young artist completing school, I’m finding that I am also seeing myself at that crossroads between following God’s destiny for my life or choosing what is comfortable in order to have stability.

However, in me choosing to take this leap, I am placing my faith in my higher power in hopes that they will also guide me to freedom. In this moment I am taking this “Leap of Faith” freely, faithfully, and unapologetically.