My dad’s sister painted a Black Madonna with the Christ child in honor of my adopted brother who is bi-racial and three years older than me.
As a very small child, I imagined the black Madonna in this painting looked like my mom’s mom, until I realized her mom was grandma.
In second or third grade I learned about slavery in our country and racial prejudice. I couldn’t comprehend it. A passion filled my child’s heart to spend my life making up for these evils. I didn’t know how or what difference I could make.
Years later, shortly after entering religious life in the mid-90’s, I began serving in the inner city of Steubenville. Here, I first encountered African American people, those for whom I desired to give my life when I was still a child. I felt inspired to paint a Black Madonna with Child, even though I had never painted.
This first painting of mine is an expression of my love for my brother and the people who suffered under the oppression of slavery, and those who continue to experience wide-scale prejudice.
Every person is made in the image and likeness of God. I hope my painting communicates this truth. This painting hung for many years in downtown Steubenville at Samaritan House, the thrift shop and emergency food bank that our sisters ran; it closed in 2020.
-Mother Della Marie Doyle, T.O.R.
