Activity: Art and Activism

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

About This Artwork

Betye Saar uses her art to confront and challenge the racism and discrimination experienced by Black Americans. In this lithograph, Aunt Jemima, a character who embodies a racist stereotype based on the practice of enslaving Black women to work as maids and nannies, peers at the visitor from the lower right corner, wearing a bandana featuring the word LIBERATION as bright flames shoot out across the rest of the artwork. In this artwork, Betye Saar frees Aunt Jemima; she is no longer a stereotypical figure. Instead, she is a free and powerful woman with a voice that demands to be heard and respected.

Click on the expand icon below to enlarge the image of Blow Top Blues: The Fire Next Time.

Activism is taking action to create change in one’s community. Activism can happen anywhere and can take many forms; some people organize, others donate money to important causes, some people volunteer their time, and others protest through marches or strikes. For Betye Saar, making art is how she takes action against racism and discrimination. In this project, you will identify and develop your own activism plan.

Activity

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Instructions

1. Think about a time when you, a family member, a friend, or one of your communities experienced discrimination. Explain what happened on a separate piece of paper.