Jasmine as the Madonna by Mariah Tyes

Public Story

Jasmine as the Madonna

Copyright Mariah Tyes 2024

Updated May 2022

Topics Art, Documentary, Fine Art, Journalism, Motherhood, Photography, Photojournalism

Summary

Jasmine Johnson nursing her two beautiful babygirl’s, Sage + Bleu

This is one set of images taken from a series in honor of my late mother, Marion Tyes. My mother transitioned from this life on August 12th, 2019 — she had lung cancer, but passed away from a lack of oxygen to her heart. I was 5 months pregnant with my first child, Eden Oshun, when we laid my Momma to rest. Eden was my 4th pregnancy after suffering 3 miscarriages before her and she was born January 30th, 2020 — right before the start of a pandemic. I say all of that to say, that motherhood has truly saved my life. The major trials/ triumphs I’ve experienced during my pregnancies and even after the safe delivery of my babygirl, it is safe to say that motherhood makes me feel invincible, unstoppable, and more resilient than I’ve ever had to be. Being a mother has given me undeniable strength to carry on for not only my baby, but redefining the purpose for myself. Motherhood has its challenges, especially when raising a strong and seemingly self sufficient young lady. I love this new journey and the ways it reminds me of how I was raised, hand in hand with my mother. I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world!