About j.n.deloach
More about me
I’m a Maryland born-and-raised storyteller, artist, and activist fighting for Black liberation, especially with folks who are trans, queer, and Disabled. I use storytelling to expose power dynamics and to support other Black folks with expressing themselves and their dreams.
From 2017 to 2020, I engaged my love for storytelling and resistance work as a founding editor and designer of MelaNation, an art zine and blog by BYP100 DC (Black Youth Project 100 DC) about Black liberation in the DC metro area. From 2018 through 2020, I led communications and design strategy for the campaign DECRIMNOW DC, a campaign fighting against the criminalization of sex work and fighting for resources. I’ve collaborated with Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, a collective of incarcerated freedom fighters leading the fight for human rights.
I also love to write. You can see some of my nonfiction writing through my 2019 column in Washington City Paper, “Mumble Sauce.” I also write fiction, some of which can be seen in Kweli Journal.
More about the art
Through my art, I blend style symbols like doorknocker earrings, geometric shapes, floral designs, and portrait studies to uplift the beauty, humanity, and power of Black people, especially Black women.
The personal styles of Black women that I grew up with in Maryland are an inspiration for my artistic style. For example: after a lifetime of watching cool kids rock doorknocker earrings so well, and wanting to be a cool kid myself, I got my first pair of triangle doorknockers when I got to high school. My logic was flawed so they didn’t make me cool, but I’ve been wearing the same style ever since. You’ll see them featured in a lot of my work, like in the MelaNation Goddess and the Girl with the Doorknockers.
My art is both political and personal, as it allows me to ruminate on my experiences as a Black queer person in a white supremacist society. I believe that art and storytelling can be healing and empowering processes, and I hope to give love to and support healing for other folks through my art, activism, and life.
Keep in touch
If you are moved by what you see, feel free to learn more about some of my creative projects (ya girl’s gotta hustle), buy a print or sweatshirts with my artwork (ya girl’s gotta eat), and contact me to let me know what’s up (ya girl wants to hear from you!). Be sure to follow me on Instagram at @j.n.deloach and on Twitter at @jndeloach to see my latest work.
Thank you so much for visiting my website, and I hope you have a beautiful day.
Best,
Jordan N. DeLoach
