How to Be Unpopular in the Black Art World
Black art and culture have long been revered for their beauty and depth. As creators of Black art, we have the power to share stories, educate, and empower. Unfortunately, there are instances where Black art and culture are only viewed as trends and commodities and powerful stories are suppressed. Time and time again, we hear that the culture we’ve identified with our entire lives is now the “hottest trend” when in fact it’s just a part of our upbringing and everyday routines.
Treating culture as a commodity can be a dangerous thing. When others put a price or time limit on the knowledge, customs, and art without any regard — admiration can turn into erasure. Respecting Black culture and art begins with taking the initiative to learn the rich history that wasn’t shared throughout schools and simultaneously unlearning biases. I’ll try not to make this a sociology lesson, but may this serve as a reminder to Black creators to continue to tell stories and do so unapologetically. Always remember your “why.”
If we’re being honest, a black square or hashtag won’t cut it. Performative allyship won’t cut it either. It’s time to hold people and brands accountable moving forward, and just simply do better. Let’s start with having difficult but necessary conversations that include these action items geared towards change.
Here are 3 ways you can support Back art and culture, and truly do the work to help:
- Listen. — To simply listen and understand the experiences of individuals who are Black requires more than a seat at the table. If the goal is to amplify Black voices — listen. If the goal is to diversify your current environment — open yourself up to more than diversity and inclusion — realize that equity is essential.
- Do your research and apply what you’ve learned — without application, the work will never be done. You can read the same body of work over and over, but without application, there’s no way to know if the lesson is learned. I know we see this in many places, but it is important to actually do the work and continue to grow. The colonization of art and culture has been happening for hundreds of years and this fight will continue.
- Support Black Creators. Period. — It’s not just a hairstyle. It’s not a hot new trend. It’s not just a dance. I could go on and on, but you get the point. Give credit where it’s due. There’s a deeper meaning to everything because it is that deep. Refer to #1 and #2 to understand why.
The colonization of Black art and culture always lacks the nuances that make it so special. The emotions and expressions of art simply cannot be duplicated and should be respected. As an illustrator, I try to create art that captures joy, Black girl magic, and comfort. As an artist, I realize that other’s opinions of my art are none of my business and that my only job is to continue creating art the displays joy, magic, and the various shades and beauty of Blackness. I encourage Black creators to tell their stories and support one another. I also encourage media channels to have these difficult conversations and work towards solutions to bring everyone to the table with fresh perspectives.
Again, this will take time, but it is not impossible. Support Black creators — amplify diverse voices year round!