"Naima's Grandma" is a sculpture by Joseph Beckles, my father-in-law. Naima is my wife, his daughter, and the sculpture is a tribute to his mother, Angel Beckles. The seeing eye is about 12 feet above the ground, which to me symbolizes her wisdom. The long stem to the seeing eye says something about her fortitude, and the base shows her rural, working class roots. Angel and Joseph both emigrated from Jamaica to Brooklyn in the 1950's, and she was the true matriarch of the family, keeping her five children and many grandchildren connected until her death at age 97 about six years ago.

– Sam Rosaldo

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant