Throughout the years we have repeatedly been faced with social issues that require action from certain individuals in order to overcome them. The power of communication is one of the main factors that promotes the success of a social movement; allowing the message to resonate with the public. However, art and design play a big role in visualising and communicating a movement, and it’s message. This essay demonstrates how visual elements and creativity have been used within Black Liberation Movements through history and the present day. It also identifies the ways in which the use of socially charged design has evolved over the years, and the effect it has had on the success of certain movements. The essay takes a look at some of the artwork …show more content…
It also describes Black Live Matter as; a unique contribution that goes beyond the tragic killings of Black people by US law enforcement; and the ideology of Black nationalism. Instead, it is an affirmation of the lives of all Black persons, and centres around the individuals who have been marginalised within Black liberation movements. Alicia Garza, one of the movement founders explains the history of Black Lives Matter in her own entry on the organisation's website. She states that the movement was created by Herself and two sisters, following the late 17-year-old, Trayvon Martin being placed on trial for his own murder. In addition, the killer, George Zimmerman, was not held accountable for the crime he committed. Garza also speaks on how they created Black Lives Matter as a call to action for Black people in response to the racism that infiltrates our society and our movements. However, the movement stems from a long history of Civil Rights activism. In his article on Black Lives Matter, Rickford (2016) writes that despite the youthful ambience of Black Lives Matter, the older generation of activists is willing to connect with the current racial justice advocates. He explains that it emanates from an organic black protest tradition while engaging an avid multicultural following (Rickford …show more content…
It uses the colours blue, white and red which resemble the American flag, where the civil rights movement took place. However, this comes across a lot deeper than just patriotism. The placement of ‘we shall overcome’ in the red and the blue stripes is conceptually significant. According to an article about the meaning of the US flag, although the colours weren’t originally significant to anything, many individuals believe that they represent something more. The red is said to signify courage and strength, the white represents innocence and purity; whilst the blue personifies perseverance and justice(Pariona 2017). Subsequently, this gives the impression that ‘we shall’ being placed in the red communicates the need for courage and strength during the fight to overcome. The placement of ‘overcome’ in the blue conveys that justice will be served once the fight is over. On the other hand, some may argue that the type used for the statement is not readable or striking enough due to how light and illegible it is. Although, in contrast, this may allow the viewer to see the image as a whole, making it easier for them to understand the concept. Additionally, in the centre, the illustration of the three people holding hands, seems to communicate a sense of unity. This would represent the need to stand in solidarity and support each other through the fight. But, the hand pointing
Thousands of black teenage males die in gun crimes every year. Many of the teenagers that are killed aren’t even 18 years old. The children and teen killed in 2008 and 2009 could fill more than 229 classrooms. Gun homicide is the number one cause of death for African American male. Trayvon Martin is a perfect example of gun homicide killing our black males. Trayvon Martin was a 17 year old, who was walking home from the 711 on a rainy night. When he was walking, he saw George Zimmerman who was following him and asking him where he was going. When Trayvon began to run, Zimmerman chased him and shot Trayvon Martin because he assumed Trayvon was doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing. “George Zimm...
The Black arts movement created a new medium that had its own distinct black aesthetic to bring about and inspire revolutionary change. Karenga’s essay “Black Cultural Nationalism” outlines three distinct components that black art must meet in order to be true black art. These three components are that “it must be functional, collective, and committing.” What this means is that black art must serve a purpose towards revolutionary change. It cannot simple be “art for arts sake” but rather must be a means by which artists make revolution through a medium that awakens, invigorates, and inspires revolution with in the black community. Gil Scott-Heron’s poem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” commits its audience to a revolutionary awakening by emphasizing the importance of being a part of this change, which ties into what Maulana Karenga asserts about the “function of art is to make
During the 1960s, many Black Americans drew attention to the inequalities among races in society. Protest groups formed and demonstrations highlighting discrimination towards dark people were a common practice for civil rights activists. Some activists believed non-violence was the only way to overcome, and others, such as Anne Moody and the Black Panthers, had a more aggressive attitude towards gaining freedom. In her autobiography, The Coming of Age in Mississippi, Anne Moody describes the hardships of growing up in the heavily racist South, and displays the “price you pay daily for being Black.” (p.361) She grows tired of seeing her Black companions beaten, raped, murdered, and denied their opportunity to prosper in the land of plenty: America. The Black Panthers’ assertive mindset was aimed to exemplify the injustices of a prejudiced society that denied Blacks the power to determine their own destiny. At a young age, Anne realizes that there is something that gives Whites privilege over Blacks. She thinks that there is a secret to why Blacks always have to watch a movie from the balcony while Whites watch from the floor. Both Anne Moody and the Black Panthers discover this secret, and use an assertive approach in their civil rights activism for social and political reform that would finally give Blacks the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that are granted to all Americans. The secret was racial discrimination.
There are 3 colors in the art: black, white and red. That represent for 3 types of people in the America. The artist wanted to criticize the racist during that time. Especially she is an African American. All black people didn’t have the right to vote in that time. The other element of design in this art is line. In the background of the art, we can see that is the American flag. The artist wanted to concentrate that the issue is happen in the America. In addition, it also the symbol of the jail and the face of the woman were sad. Faith Ringgold wanted to say over the art that why we are all human, we live in the same country, we speak the same language but why don’t we have the same right? “With the element of the American flag used, Faith Ringgold turn the flag into prison cell, the star becomes sheriff’s badge, the stripes turn to black bars of jail; white woman pledging allegiance to flag while denying blacks right to vote, she is a prisoner in her own bigotry” (pg 17 text book). The principles of design that she used in the art are balance and contrast. We can see the balance by looking at the stripes in the art and the contrast by the color that Faith Ringgold used in her painting. In the real life, each color in the American flag has its own meaning. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor. White symbolizes Purity and Innocence. Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice. However, in God Bless America, everything is changed. One thing we should pay attention in this art is her hand. She putted her hand on her heart like she was praying or wishing that the racist will be stopped and everybody can be
Another view of the American flag is the colors red, white, and blue. Some Americans see the color red as blood for all the blood shed on the battlegrounds. Another color white for victory or triumph in our great nation of America. Lastly, the color blue for the sadness or sorrow felt because of the lives lost in war.
Black art forms have historically always been an avenue for the voice; from spirituals to work songs to ballads, pieces of literature are one way that the black community has consistently been able to express their opinions and communicate to society at large. One was this has been achieved is through civil disobedience meeting civil manners. In this case, it would be just acknowledging an issue through art and literature. On the other hand, there is art with a direct purpose - literature meant to spur action; to convey anger and shock; or to prompt empathy, based on a discontent with the status quo. That is, protest literature. Through the marriage of the personal and political voices in black poetry and music, the genre functions as a form
As present in the Zimmerman case of 2013. 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was an unarmed teen wandering around in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman had called 911 to inform them of a suspicious character around the neighborhood. The police informed him to stay in his car and not approach Martin. Zimmerman did not listen to the police. When the police arrived at the scene, they arrived to a dead body belonging to Martin, an African American teen, who was unarmed. Zimmerman was injured in the encounter. Immediately claiming that it had been an act of self defense. In the beginning, he was not tried as there was no proof to disprove his story. Later it is recommended that he be tried for manslaughter as he did not identify himself to Martin. In a recording of the 911 call there is a voice heard saying, “Help! Help!” It seems the voice is that of Trayvon Martin. Shortly after gunshots are heard. In the end, Zimmerman is found not guilty of murder as it was an act of self
American is known for its rich culture and diversity. Black lives matter (BLM) is an international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people as defined by google. It was created in 2012 as a call to action for black people after seventeen year old Trayvon Martin was placed on trial for his own murder and the killer, George Zimmerman, was not held accountable for the crime that he had committed. It was a response for the anti-Black racism that still remains in our society and within the movement itself. It is a movement that goes beyond the killing of black people by police and vigilantes. It calls for the Black community to love each other, live
The colors of the Flag may be thus explained: The red is for valor, zeal and fervency; the white for hope purity, cleanliness of life, and rectitude of conduct; the blue, the color of heaven, for reverence to God, loyalty, sincerity, justice and truth.
The Black Arts movement refers to a period of “furious flowering” of African American creativity beginning in the mid-1960’s and continuing through much of the 1970’s (Perceptions of Black). Linked both chronologically and ideologically with the Black Power Movement, The BAM recognized the idea of two cultural Americas: one black and one white. The BAM pressed for the creation of a distinctive Black Aesthetic in which black artists created for black audiences. The movement saw artistic production as the key to revising Black American’s perceptions of themselves, thus the Black Aesthetic was believed to be an integral component of the economic, political, and cultural empowerment of the Black community. The concepts of Black Power, Nationalism, Community, and Performance all influenced the formation of this national movement, and it proliferated through community institutions, theatrical performance, literature, and music.
First off Black Lives Matter is a powerful organization that has gained national attention. The movement was started in 2012, after the death of seventeen year Trayvon Martin. A very controversial trial came about, against a police officer named George Zimmerman who had shot the young black man. The main goal of black lives matter is to prevent
Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement, originating in the African American community. It campaigns against violence toward black people and has become a uniting call for an innovative chapter in the black freedom fight. The clearance of Trayvon Martin’s killer in 2013 and the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 stimulated this movement. Black Lives Matter isn’t just about the loss of Black lives; but mainly about the lack of consequences when African American lives are taken by Caucasian officers. The question is; do black lives truly matter to those that claim to protect it? The answer is no they do not because the movement’s alleged “peaceful” protests continuously
In the national registration of exoneration, 2111 people being released for a crime they didn't commit. Out of the 2111 people, 985 were black and the other 1126 were a combination of caucasian, hispanic and others. The statistics shows that, almost half of the people exonerated were innocent black people. A black person that is convicted of murdering a white victim is 50% more likely to be innocent of that crime. The law enforcement targeting black males, as caused society to see black males in a dangerous point of view. The story Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old boy who was gunned down because his killer George zimmerman chose to not listen to the police instruction. On his way home after buying a bag of skittles and a can of iced tea from 7-eleven Trayvon was approached by Zimmerman. Zimmerman confronted Trayvon because he suspected him of doing something, which resulted in both men fighting on the floor. Tayvion was killed during this altercation by Zimmerman’s gun, and zimmerman was arrested for it. Even after ignoring the police instruction of not to approach Trayvon, he was released on the plea of self defense. According to Blow (2012), “One other point:Trayvon is black Zimmerman is not.” In making this case, Blow acknowledge the theory of how the death of black males are not taken seriously by law
Overall, many believe that the undeviating war on racism in today’s society is fueled by police brutality and anti-police violence. Specifically, The Black Lives Matter movement which is the source of controversy regarding these topics. To summarize, this campaign is “both a hashtag and a political project that formed after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin.” (Miller). Later in the article Chelsea Fuller, senior communication associate of The Advancement project which is a multi-racial civil rights organization, states “The Black Lives Matter movement is to deal with anti-black racism, to “push for black people’s right to live with dignity and respect” and be included in the American democracy that they helped create” (Miller). In discussions of The Black Lives Matter movement, a controversial
Black Lives Matter is not a movement that believes all lives do not matter; nevertheless, it highlights the fact that black lives are taken for granted by the judicial system. Protests around the world have taken place to fight for justice in the black community. The immense number of deaths of unarmed black men and women is a clear sign that they are more likely to be killed by police than white people. Physical violence and excessive use of force by the U.S. police towards African Americans are seen in the news regularly.