been violated by state sanctioned racism.
About this Event
This memorial is for those African American youth whose lives have been violated by state sanctioned racism, either by M**der, extreme violence, or a wrongful conviction. These events have occurred throughout the history of our United States, and they continue up to this present day. This installation serves as acknowledgment of the sacrifices of these young people, as an effort to begin to understand the why of this violence and to begin a healing process within each of us. These young people did not volunteer to become martyrs, but their lives were irreparably damaged or destroyed, nonetheless. Many of us grapple with their sacrifices because, survivor's guilt perhaps, we know deep in our soul, “there, but for grace, goes I.”
This installation consists of six double-sided, mixed-media textiles, each 5’ - 6” x 11’ – 0”. On one side, the community side, portraits of the Birmingham Six are embroidered as sentinels, protectively standing guard over their communities, nurturing and protecting the children who surround them playing happily. On the other side, the Pr*son side, are some of the components of state sanctioned racism that contribute to stifling the creativity and curiosity of our children to limit their potential and which serve to corral them into the industrial Pr*son complex that dominates our society.
Despite the trauma of their lives, we will always remember them by “saying/sewing” their names in defiance of that trauma. On panels that border the Pr*son side, over 150 community members came together in various settings in Boston MA, Garland TX, Memphis TN, and Dorado PR to research the history of nearly 300 youths before embroidering their names and their ages when their lives were violated. Our youngest embroidery volunteer is seven and the oldest is 86. The participation by so many different members of the community reinforces the individuality of the many on our list; each was someone’s beloved son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin and friend. Their loss created a void in their families and communities that can never be closed, and the world has forever been denied the benefits of their potential accomplishments and contributions.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building, 2300 Washington Street, Boston, United States
USD 0.00
