WHAT IT MEANS TO CREATE FOR THE REVOLUTION
Article by Keyonna Butler | Featured image credit ARTnews
Its 2020 and still black lives are being taken by the hands of police in the form of brutality and racism. We are still having to march the streets in protests, peace rallies and demonstrations. For so long the fight to be equal within this country has been met with nonchalant answers or even silence from the other side. Now more than ever we demand answers and most importantly change. While some organize events and protests to make their voices heard, others may turn to their canvas or any other tools to create to relay the message that black lives matter. As I scroll down the pages on Instagram, Facebook and even Tumblr I am being met with creatives around the world that are using their art and platform to creatively express themselves during this time. You have recording artists such as Vic Mensa or Joey Badass who have always lent their music to educate their audience on the mistreatment of minorities especially African Americans. Films and tv shows such as “Selma” or “13th” who were created by black film directors and writers tell the stories of our people fighting for civil rights in America. A new renaissance of black artistry is coming to the forefront to tell our stories, black stories of struggle, joy and even pain.
Artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
This is not a new concept however. There have been plenty of art movements led by African-Americans that told our stories through film, poetry, style and art. One art movement that may have left the strongest imprint is the Black Arts Movement that occurred from 1965 – 1975. This movement was developed in the wake of the Black Panther movement and in response to the injustice that black lives were given during those times. Many have said that poet Amiri Baraka was the father of the Black Arts Movement which gave a way to celebrate black history and culture when many other art movements did not even include us. This movement was made up of poets, theatre artists, visual artists and writers all giving their talent to a purpose of pride and liberation for black lives and black culture. While many art disciplines were included within this movement, poetry and theatre had the biggest impact among all other art forms. Out of this movement, many lasting writers and theatre productions stood the test of time such as Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Aurde Lorde and of course Ntozake Shange who rose to fame from her famous work, ”For Colored Girls”.
Image credit: Black Past
“I am not in the streets, I am not in the trenches, I am not protesting, what can I do where I am now?”
Now, in present time many people who may have been influenced by the Black Arts Movement or may be fed up with the cruel killings of unarmed black men and women use their talents as a way to express themselves and their views of the world as it is. While many would rather separate their work from the politics of the world, there are still large groups of black creatives who are taking a stand and using their work as protests. I once read a quote from Toni Morrison that read,” I am not in the streets , I am not in the trenches, I am not protesting, what can I do where I am now”? This is the time to use that talent that you were given to speak up and speak loud, sometimes without even having to say a word. We all cannot march in the streets but we can all do something where we are now. We all have our lane and it’s up to us to use that lane as a path for the next generation so that they too do not have to scream “black lives matter”. It’s up to us to create for the revolution. It’s up to us to create our freedom, once and for all.
Be sure to support the Black Lives Matter moment. Visit the official website at Black Live Matter.
