Blog 4 (part 2)

Nikki Rosa

"Nikki-Rosa" by Nikki Giovanni is about her life story. Its mostly focused on her childhood. She is expressing all the harm that has been done to her while growing up. According to the white person this was harm but she didn't see it that way. While the white folk would have pity on her she is expressing that she wouldn't have it any other way. She believes that wealth isn't happiness. Family is happiness, the bond within the family is worth more than money. But its just not any family its a "black family" or as she stated "black love". I believe it could've been political art because she is comparing the white aesthetic to the black aesthetic. The white would need the wealth, while she enjoyed her childhood even though she wasn't rich. But I don't think its literally about money I think its about that sense of content. She is happy that she was able to live her culture and didn't have to give in to the white way of life. She believes that "black love" is wealth. She is happy to be black because she has a different lifestyle and a different way of thinking. This relates to Neal's manifesto because he is stressing the fact that you need to destroy the white way of thinking and way of life. He wants a black artist to embrace their heritage. He believed that black artists should start researching their background and demonstrate it so the black community could be proud of their culture, rather than trying to be the white man.Giovanni embraces her culture and wouldn't change it. It seems like she pities the white folk because they cant never experience the real wealth which is "black love"

Blog post 3

"The Black Arts Movement"

Larry Neal's Manifesto was very interesting. He believed that they needed a "Black aesthetic" in order to progress. He felt that a black artist could not be successful if they don't look into their roots. They have to let go of the white America way of thinking. They need to absorb their culture, understand it, and start expressing it no matter the consequence. He sees that politics has a lot to do with this because if they keep feeding the white audience what they want they could still be superior to the black community. Also theaters were shut down by organizations because too much "black aesthetic" was being demonstrated. He believed that if people didn't expose their culture and embrace it then their culture will diminish. This was published in the summer of 1968. This was a very important year especially to the black community. In the Olympics two black athletes won. They saluted with the signature "power to the people" wearing black gloves when they were at the podium receiving their medals. Also JFK was murdered. Most believed it was because he was for the black community. After all that was accomplished their still was animosity towards the black community. This could've been a huge influence on Neal because he felt that enough was enough. Black artists should practice black art and stop trying to please the white man. 

Blog 4 (part 1)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the read-a-thon. Its the first time that I went to any student activity on campus. I have to say it was the most perfect weather to be outside and listen to poetry. Many people read stories and poems. I realized that people had many different styles. Some were serious and dramatic, while others had a sense of humor and even sexual. If Im not mistaken their was a poem someone read called "The Sexual Kitchen" he compared sex to a salad, well actually he disguised sex as a salad. It was somewhat graphic but when you sit back and imagine a salad it mad complete sense. Also I realized that people, even myself automatically assumed that poems have to rhyme. Now I know that poems are expressed differently. Someone can write a poem about anything. I heard a poem about grapes. Poems don't even have to make sense directly I noticed that just like painters, words could be abstract as well. I never sat at the courtyard in school. It was nice to just sit, relax, and listen to people read their own pieces of work or pieces of work that means something to them. I enjoyed the experience it was very refreshing. I enjoyed the read-a-thon and I would recommend it to anyone. 

blog post 2

When I first came across the song "Only Pawn In Their Game" by Bob Dylan, I didn't know what to think. When I read the lyrics I had my own interpretation of the words. I thought that he was defending the white people down in Mississippi. But when I heard Dylan sing it I changed my mind instantly. The way he sings the song you can tell that he didn't support the issues at all. I think the way that he sang the song, the lyrics just mean a whole different thing. He is explaining all the cruel acts that are being done in the south, he is also explaining the reason why they are being done. He was talking about the current events that were going on in that era. For example he brought up the issue with Medgar Evers. He was a man who was a civil rights activist who was murdered and his killer was never convicted. Dylan made it completely clear in the song that an innocent man was killed due to his color and voice. But what had me confused in the beginning was the line he repeats throughout every verse. He sings "their only a pawn in their game" This was not clear to me at first. After I heard the song it made so much sense. These people are responsible for the injustice, but they are programmed to do these inhumane acts. They don't know any better. But after the song continues the way he sings the songs its almost like he knows that they are doing these acts because they want us to believe that they cant control it. Its like Dylan caught on to their act. All these things are included in the same song, being that he wrote this and its so personal as if he lived there. He was from New York. The way the words are put together almost seems personal. What I would like to know is what was the initial reaction of the people. This song is extremely controversial. I have seen some live performances of Dylan performing this song and it was completely quiet in the crowd, its almost like each person is imagining the scenario that Dylan is painting with his words. That is kind of amazing. He is painting a picture with his voice. I have read the interview of Bernice Johnson Reagon. She was basically speaking about her insight with the whole civil rights situation. She was a singer and even though what she was saying is different from Dylan I feel that they are very common in a broader sense. She felt that people can change as long as they program themselves to do so. Dylan was talking about the events that were happening, while Reagon was at those events. She was part of SNCC and she was very active in her community. They are both artists, they are both singers, and they both want change. They want equality and they felt the best way to get your point across is by exposing the truth no matter how hurtful it may be. They want to expose the government in what is going on but in song and activities. She did marches and sit-ins while Dylan went to these marches and rallies and performed. In a way they helped each other. More research will bring more details. 

"Thinking about work"

I have a real close relationship with the arts. The arts have made me feel like I have some kind of freedom, even though I haven't perfected my "niche" as many have acclaimed I feel like Im getting there. Art is a way that people can express their inner most darkest secrets. Art can tell stories, solve crimes, even save lives. Sounds a little dramatic? well I can honestly say that if their is any type of expression in mankind I completely respect someone's vision. Politics on the other hand, I personally don't get involved. I find it very conniving and evil from experience. I have family who is in that field and being surrounded by that throughout my childhood I have realized now as an adult I want no part in it. But protest is something that I desperately want to be involved with. I feel like if a large amount of people feel passionate and strong about an issue, get together and not take no for an answer is completely beautiful. Standing up for your beliefs is something that we should all be part of. I personally love music and visual arts. As being a Fine arts major I want to drift off into the fashion world and make my mark there. Music to me is a cry for attention (in a good way) A singer can sing a song about being broken hearted, and if that singer puts enough emotion its like you can almost feel that broken heart. Thats a true artist, someone who can take you into their element. I haven't done any protests, but a few years ago I volunteered as a kid for the Dominican Republic Relief when they had the big hurricane. We collected food, clothing, medications, etc. That was a big awakening. I feel like the world is a seed. If we take care of it, give it what it needs, it can grow the way its meant to be. A song, a voice, a photo, even a paragraph can alter the way people see things. I would like to be more educated in where we came from. Not only civil rights, but things that many Americans went through to get to where we are today. People say that this country, even world is a bad place. But aren't we a million steps higher than before. Now more people are able to do things that was frowned upon before. I am eager to be informed. So hopefully with this class my eyes will be opened.