Racial Healing through Community Art

Racial Healing through Community Art
by Tia Richardson
Adapted from versions first published in Kenosha News and Visionary Viewpoints

One day, I visited the Kenosha Civil War Museum and was struck by the exhibit with the standing bronze sculptures of soldiers representing different wars the U.S. has fought. The lifelike appearances, their interactions and the nature of their interactions (listening and sharing). There were groupings from all the wars the U.S. has fought. The tailoring of the uniforms belonging to different branches in the display cases; the food cans, noting every meticulous detail and thought that had to go into planning a war effort. From how soldiers receive their meals and rations, to the type and color of boots they wear (Afghanistan combat boots match the desert sand) – to the cooperation and collaboration it takes to actually do war – with skill.

Do I really think anybody wins in war, or any fight or conflict for that matter? The US won wars to gain its freedom from tyranny. That was a success. We are an independent nation.

But our independence comes with responsibility – freedom hard fought and won does not lie still there once the glory is over. It gets up and rises, looks about, wondering who and what will tend to its care, see to its fate, lest it run off to better grounds.

Tending to our fate takes care and cooperation. If we can cooperate for war, why not work together for better? If we can fight together over our differences then I believe we can work together as part of something bigger for the common good.

That's the choice community art offers. Community is about working together despite our differences to make something better. Let's take a mural as an example. Recently an organization focused on racial healing reached out to me to do a community mural. It starts with several community design workshops that will focus on the topic of bettering race relations in their city. They are an avenue for people to participate as part of something bigger, a foundation for healing, offering a space for sharing with mutual respect. It's a chance for people to express the goodwill that is in every human heart to selflessly make something better. Once people decide they want to work together towards a common goal, that's unity.

The process I use helps people acknowledge painful issues in a constructive way through a three-step healing process. The first step is offering people a chance to acknowledge what they believe the challenges are with race relations in their community (for example, prejudice). The second step is thinking of choices they or others can make that they believe will help make it better. (For example having a conversation across cultural differences). The third and last step is imagining a future as a direct result of those choices. What does it look like, feel like when you walk through your community? What can you see, feel, touch that tells you things are better? (For example, everybody feeling cared about as an equal part of the community.)

Taking their ideas, an artist can create symbols inspired by their collective psyche; show things they care about interacting that tells a story people can relate to. Think of words you use to describe a transformative process – for example, symbolic challenges, helping, hugs, smiles, growth, rebirth. People coming together of different cultures or walks of life.

When I talk about race I mean the Human race that we're all a part of. We're all minorities. We're more beautiful together in our differences. We are who we are as different cultural groups that have adapted to different environments and lived experiences over eons, that's how we express ourselves.

Prejudice is a built-in part of human nature stemming from our likes and dislikes, which are a basic part of our survival instinct. If I like it, it must be good; if I don't, it must be bad for my survival. This basic threat instinct is hard-wired in us. If we can embrace this idea, maybe we can change our attitude to be more accepting and less judgmental of ourselves and others.

Art, murals, helps us get past our limitations and open new doors in our psyche through transitions that helps us imagine what better can look like. It's like telling a story, with a beginning, a middle, and end (a resolution you get to choose). There's a way, through symbols, to balance different perspectives, and help things relate that may normally not get along. Colors and the way they blend and harmonize can add depth - just with the power of the artists thought while painting! With whatever activity you do, you can try this too. Human thought is a powerful creator but many people don't realize it. Think of a purpose and intent in whatever you're doing (harmony and beauty are some suggestions – just notice how you feel!)

I care about the need for racial healing. We're all parts connected to a greater whole, the Human Spirit, and we each have something of value to contribute to the larger whole to make it better. This is where art can play a role, specifically murals, because it can show many perspectives at once. My role is to help integrate different perspectives, find balance and harmony, through listening to the community's concerns, people's cares, and using that to create a symbol the community feels represents it.

In a situation that at times can feel hopeless, finding balance and harmony can be a struggle, but I believe in the strength of people coming together for better. I feel moved by people's absolute humanity. It's humbling because there, we're the same.