5-year-old Kent girl recreates photos of eminent figures of black history

Just before bed each night this February, 5-year-old Lola Jones has donned her mother’s jewelry, old pairs of her father’s eyeglasses and used clothes, wigs.

She stands with her mother in front of a door that swings, opening into their warm kitchen. They take photographs by the door, recreating portraits of famous figures of black history. The photo project is in honor of Black History Month — and Lola has breathed new life into old photographs of Nina Simone, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and many others.

Related: Vancouver Island’s forgotten colonial history

Lola is a shy and serious child, eager to learn; she was quiet even as a baby. “She seems to grasp things beyond her years,” mother Cristi Jones said.

Cristi wanted a fun and engaging way to teach Lola more about black history; Lola loves to play dress-up, birthing the concept. Cristi had never undertaken a project like this before and hadn’t much experimented with photography. The images mostly come from her phone.

“It’s fun,” little Lola said of the project. “You get to put the clothes on and pretend to be them. … I like to hear about them [the women].”

Lola’s school teacher shares the photographs each day in class, using them as an opportunity to teach. She says she’s noticed growth in Lola’s confidence; she’s opening up and speaking more in class.

“Seeing my little girl morph into character in front of my eyes has been mind-blowing,” Cristi said. “From sticking out her lip for Harriet Tubman, to the sad, stern look of Fannie Lou Hamer, or the look of determination on Shirley Chisholm — she embodies them all.”

Each night, when they take their photograph, Cristi and Lola read and talk about the person they are recognizing. Cristi did a report on Zora Neale Hurston in elementary school, another on Josephine Baker in high school. She loves jazz and Nina Simone; all of the women inspire in their own, unique way.

Cristi is of mixed background.

“My grandmother is a strong, kind, black woman and I have three beautiful, intelligent aunts that I look up to,” Cristi said. She and her husband, an electrician, have known each other practically since birth. Their families were friends before they were born.

Lola’s father is happy to see his daughters — 5-year-old Lola and 19-month-old Eden — with strong, positive role models.

When asked what she has learned so far, Lola said, “To be brave and stand up for people. And I can be anything.”