#BlackOnBlackV2 reflection by Gary Dyer
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear, "black on black?" Is it anything positive? Of course not. "Crime" is typically what's used to fill that blank and it is sad because we could do so much more with the phrase. Why not black on black love? Why not black on black empathy, or black on black empowerment?
[Learn more about "Black On Black V2"]
Like last year's "Black On Black" exhibition, the artists in this year's "Black On Black V2" have put their own twists on the phrase "black on black" and you should definitely go see it.
It opened Friday, October 6 at VAE Raleigh. Curators Linda Dallas and Mike Williams have revamped the group exhibition, with this year's theme revolving around community. The show is up through Nov. 25.
Why go? Well, quite frankly I personally believe the better question is "Why not go?"
[Follow the hashtag #BlackOnBlackV2]
As minorities in the United States, people of color are misunderstood, misrepresented, underappreciated, forgotten and ignored. It is important to get straight to the source. Hear the unheard. See the unseen. Many people possess warped perceptions of the experiences of people of color. Many even think that there are no differences in the experiences of people of color and white people.
It's no secret that these are tough times for our country, especially for people of color. If we are to move forward, we've got to understand one another. "Black On Black V2" is the perfect way to make strides towards that understanding.
The curators and artists involved in the two-month exhibition have also paired the artwork with events and community programming, like film screenings, comedy nights and dance performances. It's all aimed at sparking dialogue — civil dialogue — regarding the social and political climate of the country.