The current administration’s relentless efforts to undermine the significance of Black lives continue to be a cause for concern. This sentiment is evident in the attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the freezing of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, and the hiring freeze at various federal agencies.
Adding insult to injury, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is now reportedly succumbing to pressure from the administration to remove the Black Lives Matter mural located near the White House. This mural, painted by Keyonna Jones and six other artists in 2020, has been a symbol of hope and unity for the community.
The removal of this mural is not just an erasure of art but also an attack on the longstanding tradition of Black artists using their talents to advocate for equality and justice. Throughout history, Black artists have played a pivotal role in movements for social change, from the Harlem Renaissance to the Black Arts Movement of the ’60s and ’70s.
Art has always been a powerful tool for capturing the emotions and experiences of marginalized communities. The photograph of Emmett Till’s open-casket funeral in 1955, for example, was instrumental in sparking the Civil Rights Movement. The threat to remove the Black Lives Matter mural is a clear attempt to silence the voices of Black creatives and suppress the ongoing fight for racial justice.
Despite the challenges faced by artists like Keyonna Jones, it is essential to resist attempts to erase our history and diminish our power. The removal of a mural may be a setback, but it cannot erase the resilience and creativity of Black artists. As Fred Hampton once said, “You can jail a revolutionary, but you can’t jail a revolution.”
The removal of one mural should serve as a rallying cry for Black artists to create even more powerful and impactful art. Our activism does not end with a change in administration, and we must continue to use our creativity and ingenuity to resist efforts to erase our voices and our history. Black art has always been a beacon of hope and a tool for liberation, and it will continue to inspire and empower future generations.
