#Galleryyuhself/Black Lives Matter

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~Galleryyuhself~ STAG gets it.

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~Galleryyuhself~ An absolute delight and important history to know.

In our July cover story, Jamil Smith explores how the Black Lives Matter movement was built, how it is changing America and where it goes next. “As ‘black lives matter’ rings out from the mouths of protesters and corporations alike, what will it take to build an America where those three words are a statement of fact — not a fight for survival?,” Smith writes. Read the full feature here. Illustration by Kadir Nelson

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~Galleryyuhself~ Worth the read.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Instagram does something that could only be done in a covid-19, George Brown Black Lives Matter world.

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~Galleryyuhself~ The Red Line that every black person knew about is finally being acknowledged. Thank you Black Lives Matter.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Some may wonder how or why any business person or civilian who cannot understand what is going on in the world right now, cannot express themselves. They certainly can do so. But unless you have been living on another planet, social media leaves its mark forever. The images and messages you send do indeed color (yes) color perception and buying power of the people you want to attract. Get it right or face the consequences.

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~Galleryyuhself~More opinions on the Emancipation advertisement.

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Dungozoro Design (stupid/ignorant design)I wasn't surprised by the offensive advertisements by KFC and Stag beer recently. They actually work best as comedic skits - offensive bad humour. Except it's not. It’s the racist (racial) culture that produced it and the racist culture that does not have the mental capacity to acknowledge this historical genocide and how to celebrate the African culture on Emancipation Day. Of all days, corporate Trinidad, you are truly showing your ignorance. These adverts are definitely worthy of a do-over - says the design professor. Because the Black body has historically and systemically been violated, abused, killed, raped and made invisible. The Black culture has been denied its history in a country that is significantly (predominantly) Black - go figure. Neither ad has an image/identity of a Black person and the message is in the capitalist propaganda that reiterates purchase and consumption - not emancipation/freedom. In fact, the ad suggests that Black people are only empowered through consuming alcohol or eating chicken - racist stereotypes. And the Black power movement, symbolized by the fist, is subordinate to the capitalist corporate agenda - profit. Luckily I do not patronize either business. But before I end, let's take a keen look at the ethnic background of the designers (ad agency) and the owners of these companies. My academic suggestion - peer review outside of your cultural ethnic and corporate bubble. The visual language is real. Learn it before you offend people. Part of your bottom line might be at stake.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Be part of the blackout.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Sometimes you just miss things when there is so much going on. These are some great posters seen on WOMANTRA. The text accompanying it is from the June 30th incident in Trinidad and Tobago.

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WOMANTRA stands in solidarity with the protesters in Morvant, Laventille, Beetham Gardens, Sealots, and East Port-of-Spain this morning. We join them in calling for Justice. We call on Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to suspend all officers involved in the extrajudicial murders of #JoelJacobs #NoelDiamond #IsraelClinton pending completion of a full investigation.

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~Galleryyuhself OPINION ~ I take real issue with this beautiful cover of Viola Davis. At first blush it is simply gorgeous. She shows her back and the statement is strong. However, the Photographer Mr.Calmese (First black Photographer doing a cover for century old (1913 then reprised in 1983)) Vanity Fair! Shameful in itself that it took so damn long!) My gripe is the means to SELL magazines to a mostly white audience. Both the Photographer and Mrs.Davis may believe that they are sending a strong black message to said audience, but something else is also at play here. I am quoting my friend Performance Artist Akuzuru who says it best...

“Why the photographer found it necessary to juxtapose the image of a brutalized African person who was enslaved, to conceptualize the photo of Viola Davis? It is indeed a beautiful image of the actress, but why the slavery association? It both mocks and glorifies the brutality in a terrible parallel of perception. Must we be consistently traumatized by these reminders whilst (they) expect us to just get over it? The photo is absolutely beautiful, but the concept is problematic. Why did he have to make that association! He could have exercised full creative power at Vanity Fair without giving in to (their) fetishized ideas of Blackness.

she continues-:  Why couldn't it just be a beautiful photo with all the love you have for Viola and her beautiful black shiny skin. You had to rip it apart, yeah ? This happens to Black woman everywhere. You cannot just be too beautiful, our beauty is too damn much for them, they need to shield it with brutality. Brutality is all they fucking know!

Yet, oddly enough, after this furor, Viola Davis will be remembered  for a beautiful, powerful image on the cover of Vanity Fair. The reference forgotten at first glance. Yet, African Americans will continue to be challenged by perception and the perceived. GY

FIRST ‘VANITY FAIR’ COVER SHOT BY A BLACK PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE MAGAZINE’S HISTORY FEATURES VIOLA DAVIS IN STUNNING RE'CONTEXTUALISED IMAGE ''As Calmese describes it, the cover concept is “a recreation of the Louis Agassiz slave portraits taken in the 1800s — the back, the welts.” He continues, “This image reclaims that narrative, transmuting the white gaze on Black suffering into the Black gaze of grace, elegance and beauty.”

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~Galleryyuhself~ Vogue does something unprecedented. 

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~Galleryyuhself~ This SHIT is still happening in 2020 in America!

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~Galleryyuhself~ Saying NO to RACISM with your actions.

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Not so Soft ‘n’ Pretty response:

We have been asked to share this feedback with you from our head office. Thank you for your observation and concern. We will keep this in mind as the brand continues to evolve.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Business will never be usual again.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Does it MATTER?