The Right
The right to vote is a cornerstone of democracy and a powerful tool that African Americans have fought for with unwavering determination throughout history. This struggle has been marked by countless sacrifices, with brave individuals laying down their lives to ensure that future generations could have a voice in shaping their own destinies. Medgar Evers, a prominent civil rights activist, was assassinated in 1963 for his relentless efforts to secure voting rights for African Americans. Jimmie Lee Jackson was brutally killed in 1965 in Alabama while advocating for voting rights. Viola Liuzzo was murdered in 1965 for supporting the Selma marches. Fannie Lou Hamer faced unconscionable violence and intimidation for her voter registration efforts. While precise statistics on the total number of African Americans who died fighting for voting rights remain elusive, these stories exemplify the cost of this struggle that was paid for in blood.
Today, the legacy of those who fought and died for voting rights calls upon the Black community to honor their sacrifices by exercising this fundamental right. By voting, individuals honor historical sacrifices and wield influence over critical issues that impact their communities. Every vote cast honors these ancestors. As we look to the future, let us remember the past and use our voices and actions to continue the fight for justice and equality, ensuring that the struggles of these individuals and countless others were not in vain.
The work of art is filled with symbolism about our struggles. The “3/5” references the historical fact that African Americans were initially considered to be 3/5 of a human being in the USA. The blood on the ballot symbolizes the sacrifices made by our people just to have the basic right to vote. The extended arm of the African American man represents the great efforts we had to undertake to gain this right to make change in an alleged democratic nation. The noose around his neck represents our ancestors and forefathers who were lynched and intimidated just because they voted or to prevent them from voting.
Edition size is 44 in honor of President Barack Obama, our first African American President and the 44th President of the United States of America.
Exercise Your Right to Vote! Refuse to be Denied!
