Behind the Art: Black Perseverance
On May 25, 2020 George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street. I’m writing this on June 3rd and the protests across the globe are continuing in the honor of his and countless other innocent black lives. Justice is being demanded for black lives in every corner of the world. I wake up each day and see more news about places in my own community having been vandalized and people tear gassed while marching for justice.
Though the lives lost can never be returned, the hope that comes with the mass mobilization for justice is incredible to see. Change is coming.
As someone who struggles with generalized anxiety and chronic depression, the news of George Floyd’s death hit hard. It came in the middle of months of quarantining, isolating, and self preservation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Floyd’s death didn’t fully hit me until a few days later when the video began circulating. Unfortunately it didn’t hit me initially because I am so used to seeing news of innocent black lives taken by police. As heartbreaking as it is, many black Americans - including myself - have gotten numb to the pain. It’s on the news, and then days later the officers are back to work, or worse, on paid leave. I’ve spent years shutting out the news and I’ve focused on creating art work that resonates with my people instead, as a show of hope and solidarity. But with Floyd’s death came a reality check for millions.
Not even during a global pandemic are we safe.
Black Americans are in a constant state of mourning. Practically every day we see another life reduced to a hashtag. Someone’s brother, sister, mother, father, child, friend. We go through life praying that we, or the people we love, aren’t the next hashtag. As disheartening as it is, it’s reality for us and nothing about George Floyd’s death is necessarily new. Just consider Eric Garner, murdered in almost the exact same way six years ago. He died in front of millions of Americans and his murderer was not indicted - in fact, he was only fired last year. So, as bleak as it is, nothing is new under the sun. Our pain has been broadcast as entertainment and our bodies have been discarded and disrespected for as long as we have been in this country.
George Floyd’s death is a breaking point.
My people are outraged, sick, hurting, and most of all, tired. We are so incredibly tired of the same old song being played again and again with no justice for the criminal simply because they have a badge and the skin color to back it up. There are no words to sum up the affect that years of this treatment has done to us so I won’t try. But I will say that it is time for people to finally listen to us, show up for us, and fight for us. We are weary. We are exhausted. But we will keep going.
Dreamers
Sergio Aparicio
I often use the creative process to cope with heavy emotions. When I came across this image shot by photographer Sergio Aparicio, I was mulling through the anxiety of so many world-wide issues. COVID-19 had disrupted the year and the fear of contracting the virus and unknowingly transmitting it to my loved ones was constantly in the back of my mind. A disease that steals the breath from your lungs and attacks your body, coupled with the disease on the streets stealing the air from our lungs as they kneel on our necks in front of millions of eyes. I was emotionally in turmoil - sick and heartbroken by the reality that we live in. But this image brought me out of it momentarily. It was so powerful in its composition and the model looked exactly the way I felt: weary but committed to enacting change.
She reminded me of the strength, dignity, and perseverance that black people have used throughout history to be where we are today.
Black perseverance will overcome.
To those of you protesting during this time, please be safe. You’re in my thoughts and I thank you for being present for those who cannot. To those of you speaking out, sharing, signing the petition, donating, and supporting your black loved ones, thank you. Keep going. If you’re looking for ways to help support, please check the master list for donation options and petitions to make a real change in this system. We need you to make this change happen. It is not only up to us to right the wrongs done to our people. It is up to all of us, regardless of race, age, or gender identity. Change will only come when we all make it happen.
America was built by slave labor on stolen ground. Its DNA is interwoven with racism. To make a change, we need to tear down what isn’t working and build up again on a basis of unity and love for one another.
Until that day comes, we will continue on this path of self-destruction until humanity wipes itself out. But for now, all anyone can do is their best. So I will continue making art that empowers and resonates with the black community. I will use my voice and my platform to grow empathy and love. Because through everything that black Americans have been through in our long history, we always persevere. We always overcome. We will make it through this time of change.
