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Sam Uroza
Anthony Whitfield
The Black Arts
4/20/2023
The Black Arts Movement has had a huge impact on the media's interpretation of the Black community in today's media. The Black community felt it needed justice to correct the public's perception of their culture and did so with the Black Arts movement. Now in todays' media, there is more appreciation and representation of the various cultures in the Black community. However, how did this impact other minority groups? Did this movement encourage or have an influence for other minority groups to do the same? Such as the Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, and LGBT community? If so, how is that represented in the media today or rather not represented? Was there a push for change or rather a refusal for change?
The Black Arts Movement, as documented and described in Mark Godfery’s book, "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power'', was an artistic and cultural movement that emerged during the civil rights era in the United States between 1963 and 1983. In this book, we can come to better learn and understand exactly what the movement consisted of and what was the sole proprietary reason for such a movement to occur in the first place. In this book, we can see various works of African American artists and cultural icons being examined, as well as how they influenced the political and cultural climate of the time. Godfrey talks on the ways in which artists like Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, and Betye Saar, among others, used their creations to address social and political issues including racism, police brutality, and poverty.
The constant discrimination and violence that the black community faced at the time was a big influence for these works to be developed, and a necessary one too. It would more effectively get the message through that the discrimination the black community faces is harsh and inhumane when they are people just trying to live their lives. “For African American artists, the work they produced was not just a reflection of their own experiences, but an attempt to reshape the narrative of American history, making visible the contributions of black people to the nation’s past and present."
The book also looks at how establishments like museums and galleries promoted African American art during this time, which served as a catalyst necessary for many of the changes that took place.
Due to the constant discrimination, violence, and racism these black communities must face in person, the harassment only continues in the media. At the time, the black community had very hateful and hurtful stereotypes directed towards them that did not accurately represent them as a person. Whether in literature, paintings, or tv, there were constant racial stereotypes of the black community involved. Even big corporate companies displayed such media as they did not fear any backlash from the people at the time like how it would receive today. This was due to normality it was for them at the time and how the black community had little to no say in the matter if they disliked it.
One significant piece of media that I can recall as it was part of my and many other children’s childhood were the Disney renaissance films. Disney was notorious for having various racial stereotypes displayed in their films. Some examples include the crows in “Dumbo”, the siamese cats in “Lady and the Tramp”, the centaur girl named Sunflower in “Fantasia”, and much more. When racial stereotypes are represented in media, such as in the case of Disney films, they do it in a way where they exaggerate physical features, manners of speaking, language, foods being eaten, and clothes being worn. Again, referring to the centaur girl named Sunflower in “Fantasia”, she is represented with big looped red lips, has missing teeth, hair that looks messy, and is pampering the other centaur girls in the stereotypical attitude of being a black servant. This is clearly an indication to how slavery was still persistent back then and white supremacy was rampant.
Another piece of media that also made a significant and notable impact on me is a painting by Betye Saar, a piece also represented in “Soul of a nation”, and currently residing in the Brooklyn museum. This piece by Saar is called “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima.” This piece was made as a juxtaposition to Black Nationalist imagery. The inspiration for the creation of this piece was from Saar’s own personal experiences in her day to day life. She states that she sees these racial stereotypes of her community in newsletters, magazines, and even printed on produce in the grocery store. The piece emulates what she sees everyday with the over-exaggerated racial features of what society sees a black person as. This goes to show how often and aggressively these stereotypes were shoved down your throat at every corner you take.
It is because of this constant exposure of hurtful stereotypes and negative racial representation like this in the media that motivated the black community that enough was enough. This representation was so commonplace that it was even in a grocery store where they must go everyday to buy necessities. That’s not even mentioning how this was also present in most children's films as well. If kids are seeing this, then what will they learn from it? They are the future generation we must provide for and if such negative representation were to persist, then change will never come.
So in order for change to occur, a movement must be made. Thus, the Black Arts Movement occurred, which then in turn encouraged the Civil Rights movement to also occur. It’s due to people like Mark Godfrey, Betye Saar, Thomas Allen Harris, Langston Hughes, and a whole community of creators, whether through literature, music, performances, or paintings, that we were able to receive such remarkable works that will be preserved for generations to come that accurately portray their frustrations and passion for the betterment of their community. We can see that they pushed back on society’s racial stereotypes and portrayed exactly how they felt by it. Then they proceeded to correct the white supremacist society's mistakes with their own additions, portraying various perspectives of exactly what and who the black community is.
The movement was so grand, it changed society's perception of the black community and gave them the opportunity to be more accurately represented. This clearly still holds today, but it obviously won’t erase all forms of racism as there are still parts of society who refuse to accept change. But that brings another question into light, how did this movement fare for other minority groups? Groups that include Hispanics, Jewish, disabled, Muslim, and LGBT people. These groups are called minorities because that’s exactly what they are, just as how black community is one as well. Yet, I don’t recall significant movements as big as the Black Arts Movement was throughout history or even during the Civil Rights movement.
Well it’s no surprise that, yes, there were movements for other minority groups who wished to be just as accurately represented and respected in today’s society. What first comes to my mind that I think a lot of people can agree on is that there is currently a rise in LGBT rights movements in today’s generation. While I don’t remember any historical events of LGBT movements, as that information was restricted for me in education institutions that I attended, I’ve come to understand that I don’t have to go looking for it as I am living through history right now.
A slew of young people are starting to mature, and as the new generation, they have come to understand that they have rights and freedom to express themselves as who they are as people. This is reflected in today’s media as they have been accepted into society with various positive representations being in film, tv, literature, and more. This is understandable as the new generation are young and make up a majority of the nation’s population. But that doesn’t ignore the fact that the people in true power are older, thus having stricter and older ideologies, meaning that they simply refuse to accept this change and are trying to exterminate them.
This is personally painful to see as I am part of that community. Having to fear for my safety when I go out is stress inducing because there is now an increase of the massacre of trans people being carried out by white conservatives. It’s painful to see that even a massacre is occurring at such a grand scale in this nation when we are in the modern era of new ideologies. We should be growing and learning to become better people, not killing each other over a disagreement of perspectives. It’s even more painful to know that the first gay rights movement was back in the early 1920’s, predating that of the Black Arts movement.
How can people have been advocating and fighting for rights for the people in the LGBT community for decades, but society is still refusing to even acknowledge, and now exterminate, their existence. In order to correct this community’s “mistakes” they have been put through conversion camps, converted to religion, being called the devil, electrocuted, beaten, and just outright murdered for wanting to be something they’re not. So it is upsetting to see that this is still happening today, a modern era, and has escalated to such a degree where states are passing laws to deny healthcare for the community, to advocate for kidnapping of children from their parents, and to ban and destroy books talking about the history of the LGBT community.
The honest root of all of this discrimination against minority groups, whether you're black, Hispanic, Asian, or gay is the fact that this nation runs on white supremacy ideologies. Even if there is progression, even if corporate companies say they support these communities, or whether the president says he will make sure everyone is protected and loved, the history of white supremacy will never be advocated and runs deep in this nation’s veins. This is very apparent and I don’t think anyone could’ve said it better than representative Pamela Stevenson, who, in a recent discussion on passing an anti-trans bill in Kentucky, defended the LGBT community and berated the board by stating, “First you hated black people, then you hated Jews, now you’re hating everybody. So the question is, when the only people left are you, will you hate yourself? Power concedes nothing. This house is for the people, by the people, to serve the people and you won’t listen. You go after everybody’s kids, but your own. You make hate.”
The history behind why white supremacy is so prominent is further discussed and explored in Raoul Peck's four-part miniseries "Exterminate All The Brutes" which examines the history of colonialism, genocide, and white supremacy. Peck examines the historical causes of racism and colonialism in ancient Greece and Rome and how Europeans have established the idea of the "Other" to legitimize their dominance over other cultures and peoples. We can see examples of the awful effects that genocidal acts had on indigenous communities committed by European colonizers in the Americas.
Peck examines the ways in which the concept of the "frontier" and the notion of "Manifest Destiny" were utilized to support the colonization of the West and the eradication of Native Americans. We then see the horrific realities of slavery in the Americas and how systemic inequality and racial relations are still shaped by slavery in contemporary nations. This is all comes to Peck’s conclusion that the continued effects of colonialism, genocide, and white supremacy can be seen in the current political climate and that in order to solve the structural inequalities that still exist today, a more accurate and inclusive understanding of history is required. Racism isn’t just exclusive to the Americas but to all parts of the world. "The very idea of a human hierarchy was a way to justify and legitimize the exclusion of certain categories of people from the human community, as well as the domination of others."
In conclusion, The Black Arts movement was a historical movement that had a big impact on how society deals and operates with the representation of minority groups in media. Many artists came from the movement that were able to provide the world pieces to be preserved and learned from for generations to come. From this, we can learn from our mistakes and do what is necessary to better ourselves as a nation of diverse people. But there will always be discrimination against minorities. The roots of white supremacy and its history of colonialism that built this nation in the first place will ensure that there are people out there who refuse change and will do anything to “fix” it. If we don’t change for the better, this nation will eventually run itself into the ground. As a new generation starts to grow and the old die out, it is only then that we can learn from our past mistakes to redeem ourselves and become a nation that can be diverse, yet united.
Works Cited
Mark Godfrey and Zoe Whitley, “Soul of a Nation”, 2017, Written Literature
“For African American artists, the work they produced was not just a reflection of their own experiences, but an attempt to reshape the narrative of American history, making visible the contributions of black people to the nation’s past and present." (Soul of A Nation, Mark Godfrey)
The Walt Disney Company, “Fantasia”, 1940, Animated Feature Film
Betye Saar, “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima”, 1972, Wood, Cotton, Plastic, Metal, Acrylic, Printed Paper, and Fabric
History.Com Editors, “Gay Rights”, 2017, Online Article
“First you hated black people, then you hated Jews, now you’re hating everybody. So the question is, when the only people left are you, will you hate yourself? Power concedes nothing. This house is for the people, by the people, to serve the people and you won’t listen. You go after everybody’s kids, but your own. You make hate. (Kentucky Senate Bill 150 Meeting, Pamela Stevenson)
"The very idea of a human hierarchy was a way to justify and legitimize the exclusion of certain categories of people from the human community, as well as the domination of others." (Exterminate All Brutes, Raoul Peck)
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