The Black Art Movement

      "The Black Arts Movement is the artistic branch of the Black Power movement. It was started in Harlem by writer and activist Amiri Baraka"(The Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School). "Time" magazine describes the Black Arts Movement as the 'single most controversial moment in the history of African-American literature-possibly in American literature as a whole' " (A Brief Guide to the Black Arts Movement).
      

 
     In my opnion, the Black Arts Movement encouraged all the black people to express their emotions, ideas and hopes through writing. Therefore, the society had a better sense about how necessary it is to treat black people equal to other races, becuase the strong eager and needs from them were not neglectable.

If I Were Jehovah, 1970
"This painting is a an assertive revision of African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar's most noted poem "We Wear the Mask." (link)As depicted in the work, the "mask" African Americans historically used to shield the depth of their emotions in a racist society is being ripped away in a full expression of outrage and determination" (Black Arts Movement)

    

Black Panther
     "The Black Panthers political philosophy was to articulate the basic desires and needs of the people and organize black people into having some kind of power position. They believed that politics was war without bloodshed. They advocated for an end to police brutality, decent housing, better employment and educational opportunities, and the freedom to determine the destiny of black people" (Black Arts Movement).

      
         
     Because of the Black Arts Movement, people had a different view and thought about the function and meaning of literature. People then started to communicate with others through words, and they got to express what they might not be able to speak out loud.
 
      Not only in literature, Black people also had chances to enhance their art culture, which they started developing the their music, dance, painting and poetry performances. Through all forms of art, they perfectly showed others their profound culture, civilization.


      "The founding principles of this new Black America created by the Black Arts Movement focused on black power, black economics, political success, and a restructuring of the community that had been destroyed by riots and police brutality. Instituting these principles was done by using literature, art, social institutions, and black activist groups as a channel" (Black Arts Movement).

           

          
     Citation:
1. Black Arts Movement. http://www.tcnj.edu/~fisherc/black_arts_movement.html
2. The Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School. http://www.umich.edu/~eng499/orgs/barts.html
3. A Brief Guide to the Black Arts Movement. http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5647