ART AND POWER
ART FOR CHANGE :
The Civil Rights Movement (1950s–1970s)
Art can show what people are feeling when words aren’t enough. During the Civil Rights Movement, artists used their work to talk about racism, injustice, and equality. They used drawings, murals, and paintings to show what life was like for Black Americans at that time.
Charles White (1918–1979), The Children, 1950, ink and pencil on paper, 29 3/4 x 20 in., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Julie Seitzman and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2009.13
WORK#1
Title: The Children
Artist: Charles White
Date: 1950
Location : Smithsonian American Art Museum, USA
Artist: Charles White
Date: 1950
Location : Smithsonian American Art Museum, USA
Why This Work Fits the Theme
The Children fits the theme "Art for Change" because it shows the limits and struggles Black American families faced during segregation. The two children behind the window look like they’re stuck inside, separated from the world. It’s not a protest piece, but it quietly shows what inequality looks like. This kind of art makes people notice things they usually ignore, like how racism affects daily life. The drawing connects to the Civil Rights Movement which was about wanting freedom and opportunity for everyone.
Personal Reaction
It feels sad but powerful. The children look stuck behind the window, which makes you
think about how unjust society was. It’s simple but emotional.
think about how unjust society was. It’s simple but emotional.
Beyond Subject Matter
Space: The tight window frame around the figures makes them look trapped,
contributing to the message the picture is already trying to illustrate.
Colour: The lack of colour is significant. It makes the drawing feel sad and serious, kind
of like how old black and white movies or photos feel less alive. It can also work as a metaphor,
the black and white contrast can represent race and the tension between Black and white people
at the time. It might’ve also been drawn without color because of limited materials or access,
which connects to how African Americans didn’t have the same opportunities or resources at the time.
Who Was The Art Intended For ?
This art was made for the public, not just for art collectors. It was meant to make regular people notice the unnoticed unfair treatment and feel empathy for those who faced segregation.
Bob Crawford (1917–2010), Myrna Weaver Painting the Wall of Respect, 1967, gelatin silver print, 8 7/16 × 6 in., The Art Institute of Chicago, Photograph by Bob Crawford, courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.
WORK#2
Title: Untitled (Wall of Respect)
Created by: Organization of Black American Culture (OBAC)
Date: 1967-1971
Photographed by: Bob Crawford
Date: 1967
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Created by: Organization of Black American Culture (OBAC)
Date: 1967-1971
Photographed by: Bob Crawford
Date: 1967
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Why This Work Fits the Theme
The Wall of Respect transformed a public area into a voice for change and justice. It wasn't just one piece of art, it was an entire wall filled with portraits of Black leaders, writers, and musicians. The mural represented a whole community speaking out against racism and segregation. The wall became a public statement of pride, unity, resistance, and desire for a change during the Civil Rights Movement.
Personal Reaction
It is nice to see people coming together but it is still upsetting because of the cause.
Beyond Subject Matter
Scale: Because it covers an entire wall, the size itself makes it impossible to ignore, the
art takes up public space and it won't go unnoticed, so people have to acknowledge it. This
connects to the Civil Rights movement because voices of people were being ignored even though
it was on a large scale too. This wall or mural makes that silence visible and forces the public to
recognise the people they had been overlooking.
art takes up public space and it won't go unnoticed, so people have to acknowledge it. This
connects to the Civil Rights movement because voices of people were being ignored even though
it was on a large scale too. This wall or mural makes that silence visible and forces the public to
recognise the people they had been overlooking.
Unity : The mural was made by a group of Black artists and community members working together. That teamwork matches the message of the artwork itself, people coming together to celebrate identity, culture, and strength.
Who Was The Art Intended For ?
It was made for the local Black community, mainly the people living on Chicago’s South Side. The mural gave the community a sense of pride and visibility at a time when Black representation was limited. It also reached anyone walking by, mixing art and activism into daily neighborhood life.
Norman Rockwell (1894–1978), The Problem We All Live With, 1964, oil on canvas, 36 × 58 in., Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
WORK#3
Title: The Problem We All Live With
Artist: Normal Rockwell
Date: 1963
Location : Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Artist: Normal Rockwell
Date: 1963
Location : Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Why This Work Fits the Theme
The Problem We All Live With fits the theme "Art for Change" because Rockwell used his art to make people face the reality of racism in America. Before this, he mostly painted cheerful scenes for magazines, but this piece was different, it showed the truth about the U.S. at that time. He painted a little girl walking to school with the racist slurs on the wall, he used his art to protest segregation and support the Civil Rights Movement.
Personal Reaction
It’s emotional and direct. Seeing a small child walking through hate feels unreal even though it happened.
Beyond Subject Matter
Emphasis: The little girl is the clear center of attention. Her white dress stands out against the wall and the gray suits of the marshals, which draws all focus to her courage and innocence while everything else fades into the background but not the background itself because of the inappropriate graffiti.
Perspective: The cropped view of the marshals (you only see their bodies, not their faces) shows how only the girl carries the weight of this moment alone. It also represents how the perpetrators and enforcers of racism often go unpunished and remain faceless, while the victims are the ones who are exposed, which feels backwards.
Who Was The Art Intended For ?
It was intended for the general public, especially for people who didn’t want to see what was really happening during segregation. By publishing it in a popular magazine, Rockwell made sure regular Americans saw the truth about racism.
References
“Artistic Activism during the Civil Rights Movement.” The Center for Artistic Activism, 3 June 2020, https://c4aa.org/our-research/artistic-activism-during-the-civil-rights-move
"Crawford, Bob. “Untitled (Wall of Respect) | the Art Institute of Chicago.” The Art Institute of Chicago, 2015, www.artic.edu/artworks/238876/untitled-wall-of-respect.
“Oh Freedom! Charles White | Smithsonian American Art Museum.” Americanart.si.edu, americanart.si.edu/education/oh-freedom/charles-white-untitled.
“The Problem We All Live With” - Norman Rockwell (1894-1978).” Google Arts & Culture, https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-problem-we-all-live-with-norman-rockwell-1894-1978/qwGpXUCsX0RPAQ?hl=en
I think the topic you chose is a great example of the power art can have. I’m familiar with the Norman Rockwell piece, as I’m sure a lot of people are, because it really made a statement addressing the reality of the world. I think it was important how you pointed out that before this work, he painted “cheerful scenes from magazines.” Conveying how bad reality really was, that someone who normally didn’t create works regarding racism felt he needed to. Let alone, in such a simple yet extremely impactful way. The second piece you chose is also greatly impactful. I love that Black artists and community members at the time came together to create the mural. Lastly, “The Children” is an amazing yet deeply sad piece. It’s amazing artistry. I love the linework he has used to create this image. He did a great job of creating shadows within his linework to create the dark feel, but also created areas with more light that, to me, represent the hope that people will see his art and, in return, want to make a change.
ReplyDeletework 1: Your analysis really captures the emotional weight of Charles White’s The Children. The way you point out both the visual “trapped” feeling and the choice to use black and white helps make the message even clearer. I agree that this artwork isn’t protest in a loud way, but it powerfully highlights the realities of segregation and makes viewers think about what so many kids went through. It’s impressive how much meaning comes through with such a simple style.
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