As another black history month comes to an end, I think about what it has meant, and will continue to mean moving forward.
As another black history month comes to an end, I think about what it has meant, and will continue to mean moving forward. Its very existence is the embodiment of a nation’s racial wound unable to heal. I wish its glorious celebration of African American heroism were only a supportive role in a celebration of a nation no longer in need of healing. In my new painting, Defiant Alliance, I imagine as metaphor an alliance in a struggle for equality. In the complimentary poem I present two seemingly opposing views; one, White Only, suggesting a hopelessness about fighting racism, and another, Colored Only, wherein there is optimism from change of the past 400 years, born of persistent defiance by black Americans, but also from a necessary alliance with whites.
“White only”
A 400-year birthright
For simply being White
Yesterday’s overt
Is today’s covert
Amorphous aberration
Can’t see, touch or feel
Often thought not real
Everywhere but nowhere
This progeny of privilege
Fueling a caste system
Corrosive in its disparity
So systemically ingrained
Hopes for a change
No more than aspirational
When self-interests
Won’t be sacrificed
At the altar
Of the golden rule
“Do unto to others….”
But yield rather
To human nature’s rule
When even Don Quixote
Knows a “fool’s errand”
Is in a windmill’s whirlwind
Of “White privilege.”
•
“Colored only”
An artifact of history
Freedom’s thirst
Still not quenched
In air not free
From screams we hear
“I can’t breathe”
Ringing in the ear
An endless song of hope
In a yin/yang metaphor
No light without dark
No right without wrong
No evil of racism without
Good in those who oppose
Born of optimism
From a half empty glass
That is in fact half full
Of anti-racists who unite
Black, Brown and White
As history has shown
A struggle shared is owned
By all the abolitionists
Who insist to resist
With courage and sacrifice
That which is essential
Defiant alliance.
Comments
Worthy of broad distribution.
Gloria Clark DCWorthy of broad distribution. Hoping people of all colors will embrace the
Goal of erasing racism.
Harry is artistic, a scholar,
flash wiley Chestnut Hill, Boston and West Tisbury Martha's VineyardHarry is artistic, a scholar, and a philosopher; and in all endeavors, he is a profound thinker!
Simply brilliant! Thanks
skip OBSimply brilliant! Thanks Harry
Absolutely brilliant - both
Bennie Wiley Chestnut Hill/West Tisbury, MAAbsolutely brilliant - both the visual and the poem!
The battle continues. It will
Gil Williams Lincoln MA - Oak Bluffs MAThe battle continues. It will not stop . . . It cannot stop. Thank brother for painting the picture of life as it is now.
So beautifully stated. Thank
Liz OB/newRochelleSo beautifully stated. Thank you Harry.
Thanks, Harry, beautifully
Don ChilmarkThanks, Harry, beautifully done as always. i've been reading a lot of Baldwin, Douglass, De Bois, Morrison recently, and am increasingly aware of how much of the responsibility for change lies with those of us who have benefitted from white privilege and not understood its terrible impacts on all of us. I am encouraged by talking with today's 30-somethings and seeing how much more holistically they see things, and with how committed they are to systemic change.
Wonderful illustration
Jeffrey Cassis Boston/West TisburyWonderful illustration depicting a generation of hope and optimism. The contrasting poems illustrate our continuous challenges with a deep understanding of our current reality.
beautiful combination of
tom Roeper Amherstbeautiful combination of words and images---brings back memories--of traveling from Detroit to Jackson in 1965 to work in the Civil Rights movement, When I got to Memphis the waiting rooms were divided between black and white. The black one was full and the white one empty, I went and sat in the black one anyway--my first act of resistance to segregation in the South. A policeman looked at me, but did nothing, although I broke Tennessee law, segregation in
bus stations had been outlawed---still took place despite the law. MUch like current systemic racism.
Awesome.
Beryl Bethesda, MDAwesome.
The struggle continues!!!
Another Great presentation of
Alvin Johnson Naples FlAnother Great presentation of thoughtfulness my brother!
I like that this art
Rita EdgI like that this art stimulates thinking & Invites conversation. I bet several people experience this & think, I want to bring this up at dinner with friends.
I don’t really “get it,” but that’s ok.
Perhaps after I put it down for a few days, then look & read with fresh eyes, something will speak to me.
I like what was said in the article, but I don’t sense that in the painting or the poem. I think I’ll find someone to discuss this with :-)
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