When a community comes together to share its roots, the stories that emerge are like blossoms—vibrant reflections of culture and lived experience.
At a recent gathering Because, Roots, each audience member placed a pin on a subway map to mark a place they felt connected to. Somewhere meaningful. Somewhere their roots were planted.
Kara shared that she discovered a rare DNA mutation found only in the Middle East and Asia. While she found it fascinating, she also spoke about the importance of affirming her identity as a Black woman in the U.S. no matter what the details of her DNA—what that means, and how it shapes her. It was both moving and powerful.
Jacinta reflected on how Flatbush has changed over time—from a mix of Italian, Jewish, and Caribbean communities, to predominantly Black, and now, shifting again due to gentrification. Her daughter Chichi added that people from all over still return to Flatbush to reconnect with the roots they planted there. Their words were heartfelt, eloquent, and deeply rooted in love for the neighborhood.
Soraya told us about a biracial couple, her grandparents—a Black grandfather and a White grandmother from Boston—who married in the 1950s. Despite facing discrimination, they built a home that became a cherished family gathering place. That home has since been sold, and Soraya shared how she’s now grappling with its emotional weight in her own “library of feelings.”
Cav took us back to the days of watching Roots with his family—how powerful it was to experience those emotions together, episode by episode.
Justin opened up about growing up in a Jehovah’s Witness community, and the journey of forging his own identity.
Nefertare had us in stitches as she described her wild fashion choices that horrified her dad—but hey, “the girls from East New York had to show up the girls from Brownsville!”
People shared memories from Coney Island, Jamaica, Haiti, the UK, the Caribbean—and of course, Flatbush.
We had the pleasure of hearing Nozima Nurullaeva, a Pratt student exploring the everyday musical life of New Yorkers. she’s asking people what they really listen to—at home, with friends, in the park. Her findings so far? Punk, Latin, hip-hop, and so much more. It’s a sonic snapshot of NYC’s soul. (You can follow her project [here] and take her survey [here] to share your own soundtrack.) Nozima Nurullaeva is archiving and creating personalized neighborhood collections for future public access. If people are interested in hearing updates to the archive, they can send an email to nozima.nurullaeva(@)gmail.com as the project involves eventually creating more maps and a website database.
At Gallery Particulier, we’re doing something similar with Art Out Front—documenting the art people display in their front yards, balconies, and windows. More on that soon!
We laughed. We connected. We found solace. In times like these—when our communities, especially undocumented migrants and LGBTQ+ folks, are under attack—gatherings like this remind us how much we need each other.
And how beautiful our blossoms are when we bloom together.
Individual stories will soon be posted on our youtube channel. Follow to stay tuned:
https://www.youtube.com/@galleryparticulier6071/videos
