Crusaders for Peace and Justice
Graphite, watercolor, and ink on multimedia paper
42 X 60
August 2020
Black Lives Matter is a grassroots movement dedicated to eliminating the systemic racism and violence against Black people. As a Diversity facilitator, I heard many stories about the discrimination and racism that was the regular, life experience of ALL of the Black people who sat in circle with me. I also learned through research that racism was built into the fabric of our country in the very earliest days through the passage of laws that prevented Black people from participating in our democratic system and lifted white people to a position of privilege. Despite the fact that new laws have been passed to right those early wrongs, there is still a mentality of white privilege in our society that is pervasive and seeks to keep Black people from having the same civil rights due to all American citizens. Look no further than the new laws being passed in many states that are limiting voting rights!
These works are dedicated to all of my former colleagues who helped to educate me through their honest, thought-provoking, and heart-wrenching accounts of situations in their lives that white people never have to experience.
This piece portrays a real-life family of peaceful activists. Thank you to Khyre and Tori Edwards and their daughters, Emilia, Makena, and Naomi for modeling for this series and for continuing the fight for justice and freedom!
Graphite, watercolor, and ink on multimedia paper
42 X 60
August 2020
Black Lives Matter is a grassroots movement dedicated to eliminating the systemic racism and violence against Black people. As a Diversity facilitator, I heard many stories about the discrimination and racism that was the regular, life experience of ALL of the Black people who sat in circle with me. I also learned through research that racism was built into the fabric of our country in the very earliest days through the passage of laws that prevented Black people from participating in our democratic system and lifted white people to a position of privilege. Despite the fact that new laws have been passed to right those early wrongs, there is still a mentality of white privilege in our society that is pervasive and seeks to keep Black people from having the same civil rights due to all American citizens. Look no further than the new laws being passed in many states that are limiting voting rights!
These works are dedicated to all of my former colleagues who helped to educate me through their honest, thought-provoking, and heart-wrenching accounts of situations in their lives that white people never have to experience.
This piece portrays a real-life family of peaceful activists. Thank you to Khyre and Tori Edwards and their daughters, Emilia, Makena, and Naomi for modeling for this series and for continuing the fight for justice and freedom!
Say Their Names
Graphite, watercolor, and ink on multimedia paper
42 X 60
August 2020
Police brutality and the deaths of Black people at the hands of the police is the theme of this piece. The Black Lives Matter movement has been calling for accountability because most police officers who kill a Black person are not even prosecuted. I've listed the names that I could find of the Black people killed by the police since the year 2000. The killings continued after I completed this piece in August 2020 and I ran out of room to list all of the names. It's interesting to note that the number of Black people killed by the police increased during the second term of Barack Obama (2012-2015).
That's the period when white nationalism was on the rise, including the Tea Party in Congress and Trump's birtherism claims. I don't see this as a coincidence.
Imagine being the mother, wife, or child of a Black man in the United States... the stress and anxiety produced any time he is in public, even just innocently walking down the street or driving in his car... That's the reality for Black people in America today!
Police brutality must end!!
Graphite, watercolor, and ink on multimedia paper
42 X 60
August 2020
Police brutality and the deaths of Black people at the hands of the police is the theme of this piece. The Black Lives Matter movement has been calling for accountability because most police officers who kill a Black person are not even prosecuted. I've listed the names that I could find of the Black people killed by the police since the year 2000. The killings continued after I completed this piece in August 2020 and I ran out of room to list all of the names. It's interesting to note that the number of Black people killed by the police increased during the second term of Barack Obama (2012-2015).
That's the period when white nationalism was on the rise, including the Tea Party in Congress and Trump's birtherism claims. I don't see this as a coincidence.
Imagine being the mother, wife, or child of a Black man in the United States... the stress and anxiety produced any time he is in public, even just innocently walking down the street or driving in his car... That's the reality for Black people in America today!
Police brutality must end!!
Crucified
Graphite, pastel, and pan pastel on multimedia paper
42 X 48
September 2020
A modern day version of Michaelangelo’s Pieta, this shows a Black man being held by his grieving wife. These tragic figures are surrounded by some, but not all, of the final words of George Floyd as he lay dying with a knee pressed to his neck by a police officer.
We've all watched that 7 minutes and 46 seconds video of George Floyd begging for mercy, calling his momma, and saying...
I can't breathe
George Floyd became a symbol for all of the Black lives lost from police brutality... Say their names and never forget!
Graphite, pastel, and pan pastel on multimedia paper
42 X 48
September 2020
A modern day version of Michaelangelo’s Pieta, this shows a Black man being held by his grieving wife. These tragic figures are surrounded by some, but not all, of the final words of George Floyd as he lay dying with a knee pressed to his neck by a police officer.
We've all watched that 7 minutes and 46 seconds video of George Floyd begging for mercy, calling his momma, and saying...
I can't breathe
George Floyd became a symbol for all of the Black lives lost from police brutality... Say their names and never forget!