Andrea Smith's Three Pillars Of Resistance Movements

In the featured pop art piece “Race Riot,” the artist, Andy Warhol, depicts racial tension that often occurred in the mid 20th century. During the 1960s, racism was on a high among the American people, with a particular focus on the African American race that was trying to pass the American Civil Rights Movement. The art piece addresses not only Warhol’s political views, but also the inequality people faced in a land that was meant to be “free”.

In contrast to the Two Row Wampum treaty that idolizes peace and respect, with the metaphor of the two boats floating down the river of life together in a non-interfering way, is Glen Coulthard’s proposal of decolonization that says we have to sink the settler’s ship in order for Indigenous people to regain recognition and revive their rights. Coulthard sees the sinking of the settler ship as the only way decolonization can be accomplished because settlers have and continue to dishonour treaties, disrespect and take away indigenous rights and ignore the consequences of their actions. Moreover, Coulthard’s ideal for decolonization is intersectional, as it "must account for the complex ways that capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy, and the

The recollection of the Black Panther Party’s legacy more than often remains to linger on in the collective memory as a group of armed leather- clad radicals of the 1960’s. Although this memory is true, the Black Panther Party in actuality had more substance than just their attire. They were a political organization that reinforced human rights, they were leaders of self-defense against a police state that relentlessly brutalized black bodies, and caretakers of poor black communities that were receiving little to no attention by the state. They were an organization in bloom looking to create solidarity and heal within the black community by whatever means necessary. The Black Panther Party is believed to be a revolutionary force that has helped shape movements of today. Within this analysis we would like to unearth the history of the Black Panther Party including its origins, their struggles, ultimate demise, and contributions to movements of the contemporary world. We feel that it is important to rediscover this information because most of the occurrences that had appeared in the 1960’s against black bodies continues to this day. It is our duty to learn from our teachers, like those members of the Black Panther Party, in order to educate ourselves on how to create a better future. It all started in the fall of 1966 in Oakland California when two young intelligent black male students of Merritt Junior College questioned America’s ethics. These two young

There are two separate pieces our group has chosen from the Blockson Collection that both coincide with the overall theme we wish to interpret and explore in our final exhibition and presentation. The first is Emory Douglas’s 1969 All Power to the People, which was initially published on the back poster of the Black Panther Newspaper. The second is Charles White’s Dawn of Life drawing from his 1953-1954 The Art of Charles White: A Folio of Six Drawings. While each artwork individually speaks for itself, the common theme portrayed between the two is this notion of moving towards a new generation. Douglas’s piece shows a representation of the fight for social justice for African Americans, and the idea that the desired outcome of equal opportunity

In the article “The James Brown Theory of Black Liberation”, Adolph Reed argues that the modern neoliberal interpretation and definition of black agency is both historically inaccurate and disparaging. Reed warns his audience that the reduction of historical narratives leads to detrimental politics that strays further away from democratic principles that enact positive changes. Although the illustration of self emancipation and black agency depicts history in an appealing lense, it actually minimizes the coalition of black and white people who fundamentally changed the nation.

Historically and currently African American women use art as a way to express themselves, their emotions and as an act of resistance. In this paper, I will discuss the various ways two very influential artists, Laurie Cooper and Lorna Simpson, use imagery to uncover and forefront the various forms of oppression that affect their lives as African American women. Since the late 1970s, African American art, as a form of self expression, explores issues which concern African peoples worldwide. During this time period, African American artists use symbols which represent the struggles, despair, hopes and dreams of a people striving to debunk prominent stereotypes and dismantle the intersecting oppressions of race, class and

Beyoncé Knowles is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum R&B musician who is commended for her exhilarating voice, music, and performance. The unsuspected release of her latest visual album, Lemonade, nurtured her public persona as one of the many influential celebrities of today. In addition to fornication and reconciliation, Lemonade tells a story that focuses on African American oppression and women hood. Taking both a political and spiritual approach with the use of literary elements and techniques, “Freedom”, featuring Kendrick Lamar, displays a central message: the racial and social injustices on the African American minority involving police brutality will be addressed and terminated through perseverance, cohesion, empowerment and women.

For African Americans, history holds events that shaped and changed their lives forever. Whether this change came in the form of tradition, perseverance, or mass slavery, it created an image of a culture that cannot be destroyed. Illustrations of black history show the many aspects of the culture, as well as the many viewpoints that influence how society today understands this history. Often, as one can see, paintings can outline the formation of a “new identity” for African slaves (90), the “oppressive conditions” of slave history (87), or the “indentured servitude ... in premodern societies” (24). These

This photo is incredibly moving as it depicts three women: two of which are both African-American, and one who is white. Although this photo seems very simple, this is a great representation of not only the slavery of this time period (18th century), but this depicts the relations between blacks and whites even through the mid 20th century. Focusing on the 18th century, the blacks were used as an economic support structure that was being used by the whites in order to build up various areas of the economy, as illustrated through both the article to parliament, and this photograph. Also deeper inside this photograph, the amount of luxuries that the blacks provided to the whites is shown, noticing the necklace around the white woman’s neck. This photograph, along with it’s more detailed interpretation through the letter, paint a very clear picture of how slavery impacted not only the sugar industry during the 18th century, but the relations between blacks and whites for years to

As tackled by the poem, African-Americans benefit from affirmative action in education and employment. More recently, following sequels of homicides with Black victims, the movement “Black lives matter” was launched. As shown in the photograph, it defends the fact that Black lives are as important as White lives. As explained in the Time article, using means such as the Baltimore protests, this movement seeks recognition of African-Americans’ right to self-determination, as promised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, it is not a Civil Rights movement but a Human Rights movement. Quoting activist Ella Baker, it ought to seek “freedom of the human spirit a larger freedom that encompasses all mankind.” This means not only Black people, but also migrants, formerly incarcerated, disabled and LGBTs should benefit from

For years, the natives of Canada have been pushed to the side, mistreated, and abused. As a result, topics relating to the Indigenous community are very sensitive. Recently, a Toronto gallery cancelled artist Amanda PL’s art show, in which she was set to exhibit Aboriginal art (Nasser 1). In my opinion, it was just for the art gallery to cancel PL’s art show since we, as Canadians, have stolen many things from Indigenous people and their culture; therefore we should give them dominion over their artwork, at the very least. Additionally, Amanda is not of an Indigenous background so she will not be able to truly understand the pain and meaning behind the Native art work.

Viewing the ideology and power (5) of the video gave it a whole new level of meaning and insight, and allowed to to really understand its true purpoise. Beyoncé’s “Formation” presents a much-needed message that resonates with the hearts of the audience. The music video consists of images of powerful black women, thus fighting the common perception of black females as an dehumanized individuals. Beyoncé challenges her audience “to look anew” and “to radically revision” their views on black females in society (Hooks, 2016). The racial societal hierarchy places women of color near the bottom, which is exactly the opposite of what Beyoncé conveys. She depicts all types of women of color as powerful figures who are not going to accept the stigma

Recently this country has been going through what the media have been referring to as “an exchange of power”. It has challenged our mindset as Americans in the matter of whether to stand up for what we believe in or let it go unnoticed until it is too late. Historically, artists have made sure to criticize the unjust, from Marisol Escobar’s work like LBJ to Jenny Holzer’s Truisms. That being said, one of the things that is extremely important as this “exchange of power” is occurring is to continue to create and keep progressing, but still being aware of events that are happening especially those that affect us as a nation of diversity. At The Museum of Modern Art, we can make sure, as people in the world, we keep moving in the right direction.

Artists throughout history have actively used their music, art, stardom, and etc to make a statement about injustices that have occurred within our nation’s history. Although oppression and racism is what numerous African Americans have faced in the past, contrary to popular belief they are still facing it in the present day. In 2016 Beyoncè Knowles released her Grammy winning song/music video “Formation” in which she addresses a multitude of cultural references and injustices the African American community has experienced in the past and present. Knowles brings key issues to light such as black empowerment, racism/police brutality, the “hands up, don’t shoot” movement, and the lack of help and support the black community suffered during and after Hurricane Katrina.

The present doctoral research project intends to analyze and study diversity in unity in the poetry of Elizabeth Jennings who is the only woman poet of the 1950s —— The Movement. Unity is in a sense that the poets of the 1950s have been classified under the common grouping The Movement. Unity implies the traits, themes, sensibilities, techniques these nine Movement poets have in common. Here diversity is in a sense that Jennings is the sole female poetess with her ‘conviction in the dignity of being human’ one driven by her Roman Catholic outlook among the unity of male Movement poets. Jennings being a woman poet differs from her male counterparts in terms of theme, language, sensibility, conventions, faith, outlook, Confessionalism, Romanticism, and Mysticism and with the similar and diverse themes of Movement poetry.