Behind the Movement: Unity in Color's Austin Edition

Photo by Diana Ascarrunz for Unity in Color: Austin

This week, we released the photos for Austin's Unity in Color group portrait. This photo series serves as an actionable message of much more than solidarity—it's a commitment to unlearning eurocentrism and fighting for the intersectionality of feminism. Together, we stand in solidarity to show our support for Women's Rights. We acknowledge our past as we move towards a collective future inclusive of women of color, transgender women & men, women with disabilities & women from all ages, religious faiths and backgrounds. We wear yellow and gold as a nod to early feminist movements as well as ancient symbols of the divine feminine, while expressing our hope and desires for a more intersectional and inclusive movement today. Different cities worldwide have joined the #UnityInColor movement and we're proud to share the Austin edition!

Produced by Maureen Nicol of #bossbabesATX, with support from NaturallyCurly.com, in partnership with the YWCA ATX and Counter Balance: ATX (what a team!), Unity in Color was shot by Austin-based photographers Diana Ascarrunz and Jinni J, with videography by Illyana Bocanegra. You can view more photos from the shoot here.

Behind Unity in Color, as a series:

Before we get into the magic of this golden shoot, how it came together, what it meant/means and who was involved, let's delve into Unity in Color.

Unity in Color (unityincolor.org) is part of a worldwide photo series, created and curated by Jasmine S., a DJ and multimedia artist/producer based in Los Angeles. The series is city-based and calls for a large group portrait of women wearing all yellow, in recognition of the first feminist movement but also in protest of that movement's initial exclusivity, racism, classism and lack of intersectionality. Through the photo, viewers are invited to research and educate themselves on intersectional feminism.

Behind Unity in Color — Austin:

As a creative project, this shoot exists to send a message of new feminist values, while cultivating long-term change and discussion between those involved. For that reason, Austin's photoshoot was a collaborative event between #bossbabesATX, the YWCA and Counter Balance: ATX. Due to logistical constraints around the number of people who could be photographed at once, each group invited a limited number of members from their organization, all of who are contributing directly to the fight for intersectionality in women's equality. After the photoshoot, we sat down to a picnic brunch and discussed our vision of the future, our collective wishes for intersectionality and respect within the feminist movement, recognizing the importance of dismantling White Feminism and renewing our commitment to coalition-building between all in attendance. Over the next year, #bossbabesATX will be supporting infrastructure and communication between all of the women who participated, shining a light on their goals, missions and values.

view all of the photos here

We hope this Unity in Color production will inspire you to build similar coalitions in your day-to-day lives—the movement does not start or end with this shoot, #bossbabesATX or the groups involved. If you're curious about the series, how to join the conversation and community-building we'll engage in over the next year, shoot an email to thebabes@bossbabes.org or contact Unity in Color.

*We'd like to thank Unity in Color, Jasmine S., NaturallyCurly.com, the YWCA and Counter Balance: ATX, as well as the photographers, volunteers and in-kind donors (Topo Chico, Baby Greens, Blenders and Bowls and Hubert's Lemonade) for making this shoot possible.