Bella Wright

Statement

The topic of brutality of minorities at the hands of police is something that has stuck with me, especially since the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. I come from a black family, although I don’t look black myself, I still worry tremendously about the safety of my loved ones who have experienced prejudice because of the color of their skin. In the wake of today’s political climate, it is absolutely critical that the voices of marginalized communities are advocated for and empowered.

My plan for this project is to research artists who have experienced police brutality and detailed their experiences through art. A large portion of this paper will be dedicated to graffiti artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as other mixed media and artists. I am going to form a timeline using art to call attention to the deep rooted history of police brutality in America. I also want to include a personal aspect to this project, so I was considering interviewing members of my family about their experiences being a person of color in America. Along with my research paper, I will be doing a painting inspired by graffiti artists, history, projects I find through research, and my own personal art style.