What Is Black Art?

And where is it heading?

by j. brotherlove

An unforeseen mixup prevented me from attending the opening of A Day In The Life. However, as I was leaving the theater I heard the first notes of the opening song. And it hit me, is it a musical? Nothing against an important work like A Day In The Life; but can we have a play without breaking into song and dance?

I don’t know why that bothers me so much. Perhaps it’s because many black musicals are rooted in gospel tradition. And gospel, for the most part, doesn’t move me. It may have something to do with the Christian subtext that homosexuals are going to hell. Or maybe I’m just ready for us to do some new shit.

James of At Thirty-three (34) ponders a similar issue of being an artist who is Not Black Enough:

Just as theaters and museums are having a difficult time expanding their audiences to be more inclusive; I think the art world is having the same challenges. Why is it that so called Black Art must include Black faces and images to be considered Black Art? Is it not enough that the artist is African American?

Good questions; but not easy to answer. What I can say is that there are a great number of African Americans who enjoy more than traditional African American imagery, music, theater, etc. Does that make us less black?

This topic reminds me of a conversation I had with photographer Sheila Pree Bright (right before she won the Santa Fe Prize for Photography). Even when Sheila addresses African American culture in her work, it’s not always immediately apparent that her images have been created by an African American artist. And that makes her a tough sell for some black galleries.

I will always appreciate traditional black art because it is a part of who I am. However, it’s the present and future of black art that energizes me. It’s the reason I push to learn about art (of all forms) produced outside of the United States and why I like sites like Code Z which chronicle modern black visual culture.

No answers today. Just questions.

Code Z! Wow, thanks for introducing me to this amazing site. I’m seriously considering feigning sickness and leaving work just so I can go home, get online and get lost in it.

I think in too many contexts, we have allowed non-Black people to define what “Black authenticity” is, so much so, we have no real idea of what it is ourselves.

Damn, Bernie! You summed it up in a nutshell.

I believe Afrogeek brought up a similar point of view when we were discussing how race informs a critic’s appreciation of black art.

Glad you posted this, J. And Bernie, this dynamic is in force today more than ever - you’re on point! What makes Bernie’s point even more powerful is the fact that, as an example, European painters could borrow inspiration from African art without losing their “Europeanness” while the reverse is still associated with a loss of credibility or authenticity.

The only question I have is, how do you define “traditional black art”? Although I think I know what you’re referring to, in a broad sense, “traditional black art” has always had the very diversity of expression that lacks vital exposure today.

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