Artist, Myah Freeman, uses her work to express the pride and strength of the modern-day African American family. Behind this lies criticism of slavery and its impact on the Black community regarding the erasure of lineage. Metaphorically, she uses bricks representing the “1870 Brick Wall,” a pivotal point in Black Ancestry. This marks the first year in which freed slaves were listed in the census, by sir name, hence the prior broken lineage. Freeman believes the connection to our Ancestors is critical in knowing who we are. Growing up, her maternal family was very spiritual, teaching her the significance of the Cardinal: the spirit of a loved one visiting you - her Cardinal is her father. Its use is an honoring of Ancestral spirits that live through the present-day results of their efforts and precedents. As an Artist, Freeman believes that it is her duty to spread this message and carry the story of her family to future generations through her artistic documentation.