What does this say?
This screen print reads, principally, "Black Men We Need You," which is the title of the work. The bottom text reads, "Preserve Our Race, Leave White Bitches Alone."
The poster is calling on black men to focus on creating black families, an institution that was prohibited under slavery. For black women at the time experiencing gender AND racial oppression, white feminists were often viewed as rivals.
What does this piece depict and what is the history behind it?
This print is by Barbara Jones-Hogu and is titled "Black Men We Need You." Like Elizabeth Catlett's "Madonna" print, the focus is on the black family. These prints were intended to showcase positive ideas of black families and black communities. The artists were using prints as a vehicle for their ideas, which meant that they could be sold at affordable prices and more people could see them.
Thank you very much.
Why is the light on these artworks so much darker than the light on other art in this gallery?
You're very perceptive. Works on paper, like these prints (watercolors would also fall into this category) are very sensitive to light and fade very easily. The light is kept low to help preserve the artworks. Works on paper cannot be exposed to light for long periods of time either. After this exhibition they will be returned to dark storage to "rest."
Okay. Thank you. I noticed the dresses are displayed nearby. Does fabric have the same light issues?
Textiles do share a lot of the same concerns. Temperature and humidity are also major considerations.
This is interesting! The slogan on it is weird, can you tell me more?
I agree! A big part of We Wanted A Revolution explores black women feeling excluded from the mainstream feminist movement. The exhibition looks at how these women oftentimes aligned themselves with black men in the fight against racial discrimination. This poster which reads "Black Men We Need You" and "Preserve Our Race, Leave White Bitches Alone" is calling on men to focus on creating black families. At the time, black women experiencing oppression based both on gender and race viewed white feminists as rivals rather than allies. What do you think of the colors? Coupled with the style, they are so bold, graphic, and eye-catching.
Oui, right, they are very eye catching. As is the use of white for one part of the message.
Yes, the part in white is, coincidentally, about white women. This "Cool Ade" color palette was used quite a lot and was a hallmark of the AfriCOBRA collective. The color palette was chosen to help make their art and messaging more accessible and appealing to general black audiences.
Yes, right! They are beautiful colors and very attractive!
I agree. The prints were also relatively cheap to make and easy to distribute. This made them both affordable mediums through which to create art and efficient for spreading political messages.
![[Untitled] (Cardboard Sections)](https://d1lfxha3ugu3d4.cloudfront.net/images/opencollection/objects/size2_sq/2005.45_PS2.jpg)
