“YES, AND” - A MURAL, 2019

There’s a quote by James Baldwin that says:, "What is it you wanted me to reconcile myself to? I was born here almost 60 years ago. I'm not going to live another 60 years. You always told me, ‘"It takes time.’" It's taken my father's time, my mother's time, my uncle's time, my brother's time, and my sister's time. How much time do you want for your progress?" My piece is inspired by both my perspective and James Baldwin’s words of wisdom. 

Everything within my mural has significance. The colors presented are red, black, and green, the color palette of the African American Flag. The Black figures represent the societal image of a Black human being. The targets represent the consistent dehumanization and criminalization that Black people are forced to endure. The dark green background represents the future of Black pride. 

The words above the figures are from a poem I wrote [prior to the current revolution] titled, "Yes, and.” The poem reflects the perspective of the African American struggle to stay the course. In some of the lines, I mockingly represent how non-African American allies have failed to acknowledge and support the fight against our struggle to live. We have seen that police brutality doesn't discriminate. They’ll harm children, men, women, trans women, trans men. They will take the life of any human being. 

As an African American, since the day you are born, you have a target on your back, and that target remains until the day you die. Living in fear isn’t living at all, but that is the reality that I, as a Black person, was forced to accept. I’ve returned my letter of acceptance to its sender [the oppressor] because to accept is to comply, and I do not comply with continuing to watch my people die.