How DC Mayor Bowser Used Graffiti to Protect Public Space

How DC Mayor Bowser Used Graffiti to Protect Public Space

When President Donald Trump sent heavily armed federal law enforcement officers and unidentified officers in riot gear into Washington, D.C. during the height of protests recently, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser responded by painting “BLACK LIVES MATTER” directly on the street leading to the White House.

While many spoke of it as a daring political act, for artists like me, it was also an act of urban intervention, an artistic act intended to transform an existing structure or institution, that reclaimed public space back for the public. And she accomplished this with little physical matter at all.

Her action – expressing dissent by marking an oppressive environment – references graffiti, which has been called the “language of the ignored.”

Art scholars note that most types of graffiti are meant to claim or reclaim territory by those who are systematically excluded. “Writers” often work quickly and at night, when they are less likely to be seen and arrested for painting on others’ property without consent.

Bowser’s action would likely be considered vandalism if not for the fact that it was carried out by the city’s Department of Public Works, using city funds. She wielded municipal services as artistic tools to condemn another state-sanctioned action, the violence perpetrated against Black people.

FENTY R6.20-DROP1 Campaign Lensed by Lea Colombo Honors Rebellious Creative Aesthetic

FENTY R6.20-DROP1 Campaign Lensed by Lea Colombo Honors Rebellious Creative Aesthetic

Rihanna’s Fenty luxury brand brightens spirits today June 11, with “Release 6-20”, the first of three separate drops across June. Lensed by London-based, South Africa born photographer Lea Colombo, the campaign’s focus is models, artists and musicians who “embody the bright spark energy of the release.”

They include Amrit, Assa Baradji, Coucou Chloe, Daniel Gonzalez, Lilan Barru, and Mao Xiaoxing./ Art direction by Jean-Baptiste Talbourdet and Lolita Jacobs; casting direction from Samuel Ellis Scheinman. Video direction by Julien Pujol and Roberto Colombo. 

“In a time where fighting for global freedoms takes center stage, this release speaks to a generation that is a different kind of creative, and a different kind of rebellious,” says Fenty’s press release. The collection honors “decades of youth aesthetics and styles that emerged during periods of steep social change, each act of the month-long release celebrates a different facet of youth, expressed through varied style cues.”

The collection is long on psychedelic, tie-dye prints, baggy rave silhouettes, grunge hoodies and asymmetric dresses. The campaign will continue into July.

Serena Williams Steps Up For Vital Voices; Alexis Ohanian Sr. Resigns Reddit Board

Serena Williams Steps Up For Vital Voices; Alexis Ohanian Sr. Resigns Reddit Board

Tennis legend, black activist, fashion designer — and yes, now venture capitalist — Serena Williams became the global spokeswoman for Stuart Weitzman in early May. Photographer Ethan James Green captures Serena in campaign images that present her fierce power and beauty unbowed.

The power of the project for Serena lies in Stuart Weitzman’s alliance with the Vital Voices Global Partnership  Tapped to choose two women leaders to participate with her in the campaign, Williams tapped Ashlee Wisdom and Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno. Wisdom is the founder of  Health in Her Hue, a platform that connects black women to culturally competent health-care providers. Ke’alohilani Quiamno, founder of Future for Us, a civic organization that gives women of color the tools to succeed in the highest levels of corporate and social-sector careers.

Alexis Ohanian Sr. Resigns from Reddit Board

It’s Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian Sr.that made the big news today — June 8 — as word of his resignation from the board of directors of Reddit traveled through media channels. The co-founder of Reddit recommended that his spot be filled by a Black candidate amid activists’ calls for more representation of BlPOC in positions of power in global companies.

"I co-founded Reddit 15 years ago to help people find community and a sense of belonging," Ohanian wrote across his social media channels, pulling from a blog post on his site. "It is long overdue to do the right thing. I'm doing this for me, for my family, and for my country." Along with the statement to the public, Ohanian embedded a video message from his Instagram account onto his blog entry, and in it he reiterates his original statement.

Banksy Says A White System Has Ruined Black Lives, As American Flag Does Slow Burn

Banksy has left his personal testimony against racial discrimination, in response to the death of George Floyd and protests that have spread all over the world. Publishing the new work for his 9.3 million Instagram followers, Banksy’s American flag is about to catch fire, lit by a candle placed next to a photo with a black silhouette.

In Banksy’s own words:

“At the beginning I thought of keeping silent and listening to black people on this problem. But why? The problem is mine, not them ". 

“The white system has ruined the lives of black people. It is like a broken pipe that floods the downstairs apartment. It's up to the whites to fix it. "

Angelina Jolie Celebrates 45th B-Day Giving $200,000 to NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Above: Angelina Jolie at 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "The Eternals", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.via Gage Skidmore. Bottom: Newly-released NAACP #WeAreDoneDying campaign.

Activist, Oscar winner, supermom Angelina Jolie celebrated her 45th birthday on June 4, the day after donating $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense fund. Jolie was joined by her six kids: Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and 11-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

“Rights don’t belong to any one group to give to another. Discrimination and impunity cannot be tolerated, explained or justified. I hope we can come together as Americans to address the deep structural wrongs in our society,“ Jolie said in a press statement about her contribution. “I stand with the NAACP Fund in their fight for racial equality, social justice and their call for urgent legislative reform.”

Angelina Jolie Also Taking On Food Security for Kids in America

The activist and philanthropist is increasingly concerned about the lack of food security in America. She recently joined a Zoom call led by No Kid Hungry, devoted to feeding kids in America impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, writes People magazine.

Long known for her work as a UNHCR special envoy, Angelina Jolie now understands the scope of hunger in America.

“I knew that there were problems in America, that there was poverty, but I could not believe when I realized how many school children in America were dependent on a meal to not go hungry," she said on the call. "I was so disgusted that we have gotten to this point as a country and that we would let the most vulnerable be in such a state. I can’t imagine what it feels like for those parents.”

Appalled over cuts to America’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Jolie donated $1 million to No Kid Hungry, and wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about cutbacks on food subsidies.

"While strengthening SNAP will not alleviate all of the challenges low-income families are facing during the public health emergency, it will help ensure that fewer children go to bed hungry in our country," she said

USA Today reported the letter, in which Jolie reminded America’s political leaders that vulnerable children in America have missed nearly 740 million meals at school, due to coronavirus closings. Jolie also gave specific examples of how food assistance policy used to work in America, prior to the Trump Administration. Republicans have sought to cut aid to hungry families for years, but the Trump Administration has been uniquely aggressive in the cuts — with a special focus on “able-bodied adults ages 18 to 49 — without dependents”. The administration insists that children’s needs have suffered with SNAP cuts.