In my concentration, I decided to focus my work on putting the struggles and experiences of the black community into art. As a black person myself I feel that although there are so many things I love about being black, there are numerous disadvantages that have a large effect on the community as a whole. It’s both the little things such as microaggressions and the big things like blatant racism. By showcasing these things in my art I hope to make non-black people aware of some of the everyday issues we go through while also giving black people something to relate to. After attending a primarily white school for almost seven years I have found that the art showcased in the hallways art very representative of the minorities that go to the school. I feel that putting a piece in the hallways that showcase a person of color will not only convey a message but also make the students of color feel welcome in a school where they are a minority. 

All of my pieces have an “oppressor” of some sort. It some pieces it may be the hands and in others, it may be the figure blending into a white background, but in every piece, it is the thing that is holding them back or pulling them down. In my pieces, the oppressor is drawn very sketchily and stylized as a way to contrast with the realistic aspect of the portraits I do. I made the choice to draw it sketchy to convey that it is something bad and different from the rest. 

With this series, I hope to achieve my goal of making people aware of the issues the black community faces in today’s society while also representing black people in art.