America's history as told by black artists
... a beautiful expression of the human experience
I decided to do this post on America's history as told by black artists to try to bring back a bit of humanity into the conversation. This is because I feel like people firstly don't understand the depth of the pain of the past. Secondly, some think that racism ended in the 1800s but truth is, even in the 1950s there was a lot of racism. Thirdly, statistics and news headlines don't seem to bring about any empathy. So what better tool to use than art?
Kara Walker: an American painter
"Kara Walker is among the most complex and prolific American artists of her generation. She has gained national and international recognition for her cut-paper silhouettes depicting historical narratives haunted by sexuality, violence, and subjugation" Walkerart.org (( https://walkerart.org/collections/artists/kara-walker))
photo: Cameron Wittig, ©Walker Art Center
According to artsy.net:
"Kara Walker is known for creating black-and-white silhouette works that invoke themes of African American racial identity. Her subjects, often scenes of slavery, conflict or violence, are rendered in a style recalling traditional African illustration and folklore of the pre-Civil War United States; the works preserve and draw critical attention to these earlier cultural epochs. Working in collage, Walker cuts out and affixes black or white paper directly to gallery walls, and utilizes light projectors to cast viewers’ own shadows into her silhouetted narratives, creating a deeply engaging experience. Despite the oftentimes sombre nature of her subjects, Walker relies on humor and viewer interaction. “I didn’t want a completely passive viewer,” she has said. “I wanted to make work where the viewer wouldn’t walk away; he would either giggle nervously, get pulled into history, into fiction, into something totally demeaning and possibly very beautiful.” (( https://www.artsy.net/artist/kara-walker)).
Kara's work
The last image retells the story of the lynching of black people in the deep South. According to the NAACP, "From 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the United States. Of these people that were lynched 3,446 were black. The blacks lynched accounted for 72.7% of the people lynched. These numbers seem large, but it is known that not all of the lynchings were ever recorded" ((https://www.naacp.org/history-of-lynchings/)). I encourage you to check out the NAACP website on lynchings. It speaks on the lynching of white people too. So they give a really balanced and truthful account. Follow this link to find out more: https://www.naacp.org/history-of-lynchings/. This leads us to the second haunting retelling of America's history as told by black artists.
Strange fruit by Billie Holiday
The song was originally written as a poem by a Jewish teacher from the Bronx named Abel Meeropol. He later turned it into a song. And Billie Holiday sang the song and brought it to life (( https://www.biography.com/news/billie-holiday-strange-fruit)). "Billie Holiday had a distinct signature style that transformed a song into a personal story that was convincing and believable" ((https://classicalbumsundays.com/album-of-the-month-billie-holiday-lady-in-satin/)).
In 1939, she recorded a poem about the lynchings of African-Americans written by a Jewish schoolteacher from The Bronx called ‘Strange Fruit’. It was so controversial, Columbia Records didn’t allow her to record it. Instead, she used the pet name give [sic] to her by her friend Lester Young and recorded it as Lady Day for Commodore Records. It became one of her biggest hits and marked a turning point in her repertoire as she began to record more signature ballads
Classicalbumsundays.com
The story of Billie Holiday is a tragic one. And she made enemies by recording Strange fruit. Her death leads directly back to the enemies she made by recording the song. Which is really sad that someone got killed for speaking their truth. You can read more about her story here:https://www.biography.com/news/billie-holiday-strange-fruit. Here is her rendition of the song.
I was first introduced to this amazing artist while in third of year of drama school by a... (drum roll please) Jewish director. The depth of this song is incredible.
Nina Simone's rendition of Strange Fruit
Another power house sang this song. Nina Simone. This is so beautiful. And it's also the version that we used in drama school for our retelling of The Shinning by Stanley Kubrick.
Mississippi Goddam by Nina Simone
Speaking of Nina Simone!! What a woman!! I could go on and on about her and how fearless and ballsy she was but I'll let the song above do the talking.
Here are the lyrics to the song:
The name of this tune is Mississippi goddam
And I mean every word of it
Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam
Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam
Can't you see it
Can't you feel it
It's all in the air
I can't stand the pressure much longer
Somebody say a prayer
Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam
This is a show tune
But the show hasn't been written for it, yet
Hound dogs on my trail
School children sitting in jail
Black cat cross my path
I think every day's gonna be my last
Lord have mercy on this land of mine
We all gonna get it in due time
I don't belong here
I don't belong there
I've even stopped believing in prayer
Don't tell me
I tell you
Me and my people just about due
I've been there so I know
They keep on saying 'Go slow!'
But that's just the trouble
'Do it slow'
Washing the windows
'Do it slow'
Picking the cotton
'Do it slow'
You're just plain rotten
'Do it slow'
You're too damn lazy
'Do it slow'
The thinking's crazy
'Do it slow'
Where am I going
What am I doing
I don't know
I don't know
Just try to do your very best
Stand up be counted with all the rest
For everybody knows about Mississippi goddam
I made you thought I was kiddin'
Picket lines
School boy cots
They try to say it's a communist plot
All I want is equality
For my sister my brother my people and me
Yes you lied to me all these years
You told me to wash and clean my ears
And talk real fine just like a lady
And you'd stop calling me Sister Sadie
Oh but this whole country is full of lies
You're all gonna die and die like flies
I don't trust you any more
You keep on saying 'Go slow!'
'Go slow!'But that's just the trouble
'Do it slow'
Desegregation
'Do it slow'
Mass participation
'Do it slow'
Reunification
'Do it slow'
Do things gradually
'Do it slow'
But bring more tragedy
'Do it slow'
Why don't you see it
Why don't you feel it
I don't know
I don't know
You don't have to live next to me
Just give me my equality
Everybody knows about Mississippi
Everybody knows about Alabama
Everybody knows about Mississippi goddam, that's it
Source: Lyric find
Richard Pryor: Live in concert
"Richard Pryor helped define modern stand-up; elevating it from an entertainment to an art with his unflinchingly frank use of his own life, however unflattering, into his coruscating routines." (( https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/r/306/richard_pryor))
Pryor's material isn't exactly family friendly but it's beautiful nonetheless. His humanity and honesty is awe inspiring. And when you think about it within the context of when he performed his material, you see how pioneering he was. So it makes sense that he was named the most influential comedian of his time (( https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-23724276)).
According to Netflix, Richard Pryor delivered this in 1979. It shockingly resembles the George Floyd situation. Now if this isn't damning evidence of on going police brutality I don't know what is. Just like Billie Holiday, Richard Pryor's mother was a prostitute. And he was raised in a brothel (( https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/richard-pryor-raised-brothel-grandmother-madam-part-68341669)) . You can watch Richard Pryor: Live in concert on Netflix.
Toni Morrison
Author, book editor and professor. Pulitzer and Nobel-Prize winner.
I am not going to lie, I am beating myself up because I didn't know about this woman until recently. When I was in drama school, I struggled to find an artist whose work I could connect with. I mean, what black child would when you are constantly learning about just European playwrights and practitioners? Although Toni Morrison wasn't a playwright, I feel like having read her works would have helped me bring depth to my creativity. This woman was incredible. I think the Bluest Eye opens up the conversation about internalised racism. And as well, it shows how racism is interwoven into the class system and poverty in America. For, Morrison really fits the bill of America's history as told by black artists in all it's nuance.
You can find out more about Morrison and her books on here: https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/books/a26536741/best-toni-morrison-books/.
Why we should all seek out black artists
I believe that America's history as told by black artists is an important part of the conversation. But unfortunately, in our era, it seems everything is white washed. For example, in films and in some church art, Jesus is white. Additionally, people of colour are being played by white people in films. Think the Gods of Egypt. So please. Seek out black artists and support their work. Because the mainstream gate keepers are not giving them the spotlight they deserve. A lot of companies have suddenly been coming out in support of the black lives matter movement. Although I would love to think that this for completely altruistic reasons, let's be honest. Some of it is not. It's to keep up appearances.
When the protests die down, what will be left? Let's make a difference and support black artists.
Thank you for reading America's history as told by black artists.
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