Artwork by Mawena Yehouessi (First post on 2-1-17 in HuffPost Black Lives)
On February 1st, which marked the beginning of Black History month, the Black Lives Matter Global Network launched the third annual Black Futures Month, a deliberate reinterpretation of the resistance and resilience of Black people as illustrated through art.
To celebrate this, BLM has partnered with Huffington Post Black Voices. Each day in February, BLM will release an original piece of art and an accompanying written piece to reclaim Black History Month and demonstrate the importance of using art as both an inspiration and an organizing tool.
The group has commissioned artists from across the country to direct the conversation about what the future of Black life looks like.
“Of the many things we’re compelled and encouraged to do first in the face of Trump’s attacks on our basic rights and humanity, dreaming isn’t necessarily one of them,” said Shanelle Matthews, Director of Communications for Black Lives Matter, in a statement. “But in the face of unimaginable assaults on our futures, we absolutely cannot cede our ability to imagine for ourselves.”
The goal is to envision a world where all Black lives matter. This includes a world where there are resources, rights, and recognition to make the best decisions, where our contributions, our humanity, and our resilience is not only acknowledged, but sustained; where we have the social, economic, and political power to thrive, the statement explained. Most importantly, the goal is to envision a world where you are safe.
“Black Futures Month is the visual representation of our lived experiences,” said Opal Tometi, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, in a statement. “It is directly connected to the fight to end state–sanctioned violence against Black people and is a visual manifestation of what Black liberation looks like.”
