I remember reading stories and listening to conversations about music being used to express Black culture. But what about poetry? Or art? All three are vital to our culture, but art is something that I did not even know was important until I took part in the Black Voices event last year. We cover music and poetry at our schools, mostly during Black History Month. But it seems like Black art is all but nonexistent there. It is another way we can share our stories with the world, yet we barely hear about it in our communities. So, let us break this down, and give our art the recognition it deserves.
Before the abolition of slavery, African Americans did not have access to conventional art materials or a platform. Most artists at the time were from England, doing portraits of the rich and powerful. Supplies like paint, canvas, and willing buyers were unavailable to them at the time. Nonetheless, they found different means of expressing themselves. They used scrap metal to make sculptures, carved figures of wood, sowed quilts, and made pottery. Our ancestors created great works of art, even though it was one of the worst times in our history.
Even then, we were still viewed as a people who could only look at art, not create it. Following the freedom of African Americans, we were free to put out our voices and have a chance at being heard. As time passed, more Black artists from various parts of the country started to gain recognition and the tools they needed to succeed.
Fast forward to the early 1900’s, the Harlem Renaissance was taking flight: Langston Hughes, Josephine Baker, and the Cotton Club were some of many cultural inspirations that sprouted up during that time. However, the most highly regarded artist of this era was Aaron Douglas. Known as the “Father of Black American Art,” Aaron’s most recognizable work is “Aspects of Negro Life,” a collection of four murals displaying the African American life. They are currently housed in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library. The work of Aaron and others, along with the Civil Rights Movement, sparked a new generation of Black artists.
Now, in the 21st century, Black art can now be found in stores, online, or on murals in our cities. Our art is inspired by the hardships and experiences that we have endured, individually or collectively. We have so many local Black artists like Bob Lloyd, Olivia Evans, Art Jacobs, who are affecting us with their voices. We can relate to each other through our art; the statues of our failures, or the paintings of our fears. Our art unites us: music, poetry, and paintings are all simply different forms of the same thing. They are different forms of expression that we have used to show each other, and the world, who we are and what we can do. Let us go out into the world and keep showing them our truth.