Tale Of Two Hoodies By Michael D Antuaono

The “Tale of Two Hoodies” created by Michael D’Antuaono, depicts the controversy surrounding the encounters between white individuals of law enforcement and African Americans. This controversy began in 2012 when an unarmed African American teenager, Trayvon Martin, was gunned down on the account of being suspicious. After his shooter was acquitted from his crime in 2013, the Black Lives Matter movement began on social media as a hashtag but quickly gained momentum after a series of controversial cases followed. The “Tale of Two Hoodies” portrays the underlying racism in the United States; a nation said to bring liberty and justice to all.

The focus revolves around the two characters of the painting. On the left is the white police officer,

pointing his pistol at the child’s head. On the right is the African American child presumed to be Trayvon Martin, as his arm is outstretched, offering the police officer his bag of Sweeties. Both characters are wearing a hood. The boy on the right is seen wearing his white hooded sweatshirt that he died in and the police officer is wearing a KKK hood, hence the title, The Tale of Two Hoodies. Displayed behind the police officer and the boy is the American flag; a symbol of freedom and equality. However, directly in the center of the flag, and strategically placed between the two characters, is the Confederate flag, emerging through a hole in the American flag.
The white cop and the African American boy are front and center in the foreground of the painting.

Pointing his gun at the African American individual, the police officer is threatened by the boy’s own weapon of choice: a bag of Sweeties, presumably Skittles. The juxtaposition of the objects in the individual’s hands highlight the controversy surrounding the Trayvon Martin case, along with following incidents. Martin was not carrying any harmful weapons, in fact he was only carrying a bag of Skittles, as shown in the painting, as well as a can of Arizona Tea. His killer believed they were dangerous weapons and used that as justification for killing Martin. This murder caused an uproar within the black community, especially after the killer was acquitted in 2013. Martin’s killer was accused of racial profiling because he claimed his victim looked suspicious on account of his race. This is where the use of the KKK hood on the white police officer plays into the photo. The KKK are known for being notoriously racist. By placing that hood on the head of the police officer, Michael D’ Antuaono displays the racist stigma surrounding the police officers involved in similar

cases.
The backdrop of the painting is the American flag.

However, emerging from a gaping hole in the center of the American flag is the Confederate flag. This technique shows the underlying beliefs and racism of the United States because the Confederate flag is often associated with racism and the discrimination of African Americans. The American flag being positioned on top of the Confederate flag shows the deception of the United States and how we claim to be a nation of equality when in reality, our founding beliefs are underlying that lie. The founding beliefs of racism are represented by the Confederate flag while the American flag is the deception of equality. When one looks at the American flag, they see all that it is meant to stand for. That is why when cops are being let off the hook for killing an individual because of racial profiling, the community becomes enraged. The nation that is meant to provide equality, liberty and justice to all is the same nation denying it to certain people and in this case, it is the African American community. However, when one see’s the Confederate flag that sticks out behind the American flag in this painting, it is not surprise that cases similar to the Trayvon Martin case keep taking place in the United

States.
With the police officer wearing the familiar head garment associated with the KKK and the emerging Confederate flag in the background of the painting, D’Antuaono expresses the growing belief among some Americans that the Unites States isn’t all about equality. The painting presents the racism still present in today’s society. “A Tale of Two Hoodies” is a representation of what the Black Lives Matter movement is trying to make aware to those ignorant to racism. With the rising number of innocent African American’s being shot and killed due to racial profiling, this painting displays the racism corrupting the systems of America. Michael D’Antuaono utilizes “A Tale of Two Hoodies” to present to the audience his stance on the injustice and fear that African Americans are once again facing in America, the nation that promised equality.