INSPIRED BY THOSE WHO CREATE

(Or, if I had to write a Black artist’s manifesto, it might go something like this…)

Because we were born into a creative tradition; and

Because our ancestors understood the role of art in the reclamation of our humanity from those who would deny it; and

Because we honor those who gave their lives so that we might be able to dream fully; and

Because we teach the world that dreaming is a prerequisite to freedom, and freedom must first be imagined; and

Because, just as the ones who came before us loved us before they knew us, we create to show future generations a reimagined world, which honors their existence; and

Because we claim our right to live by our art AND assert its worth beyond economic valuation; and

Because we believe God calls us to spread love through our creativity, and we seek to live obediently; and

Because we know that love is necessary to realize our full human potential; and

For these and many other reasons, we are Black artists.

∞ 13 notes

Courtney McSwain

(Source: columbianights)

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