Artwork: Hurvin Anderson, Is It Ok To Be Black (2016). Courtesy of the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery, London.
James Baldwin observed, “Artists are here to disturb the peace,” and we are blessed for this. Were it not for artists, we might not stop and simply pause, taken in an experience so visceral it goes beyond words. But then, yes, the urge to translate often comes, and so we give voice to it.
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Is It Okay To Be Black? is the title of British artist Hurvin Anderson’s work. It’s a beautiful image of a wall at the barbershop. Floating on a sea of turquoise we see images of Marcus, Martin, and Malcolm, even a young Ali in there, all images pinned to the wall above the tonics, brushes, and lotions lining the counter. It’s a perfect image of a place that more than a few black men the world over know so very well.
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So then that question, it’s not for folks who sit in the chair, but for the outsiders looking in. For folks who wouldn’t know who Marcus is, even after I say “Garvey.” Cause if you know, then there’s no question to ask. But if you don’t, you might wonder, Why are people so hateful? Is it guilt, shame—or something else? In the United States, the answer to these questions is a matter of life and death. Every day we are reminded by what happens when complacency prevails.
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