Dear Brown Young Man

I wear the same mask as you

I model how to wear it, the one that grins and lies I choose to impart my curriculum and provide a space for you to remove your mask

As I navigate the injustices of systemic educational woes, challenge-less courses and inequitable detention and suspension rates on your behalf, I wonder how you will achieve within these walls and beyond and… I can’t breathe

What teacher tells her students to be safe as they leave her class Fears of what will happen to you because you are seen first as thug or criminal instead of a person Knowing that when you exit they won’t see the brilliant, talented adolescent I know They see hoods and hip hop, jays and jerseys, slang and shades of melanin Things that you may do for the culture perpetuate stereotypes but are acclaimed when your counterparts adapt or claim them as their own

Yet you continue to navigate two worlds, mask on...mask off and I can’t breathe

The term black excellence isn’t simply a mantra, but a mandate from our ancestors They knew that in order to progress, excellence in every area, especially education was essential not optional

So think before you miss class or ask to work outside They knew that knowledge would appear to level the playing field

Opening doors labeled as affirmative action which do not affirm the actions you take to expand your perspective, grow in intelligence and participate in diverse experiences

So I stand with you and for you, your advocate, your mentor, your champion

Mercedes Walton-Mason

Shippensburg University Colony FALL03 IG - Quorra06 Twitter - MsMasonPAACS

IT’S MODELO TIME FOO

ACRYLIC ON DIGITAL PRINT, 2020

As a person of color, representation is very important to me. Representation of POCs in fine art and our experiences are still not as easily seen as our white counterparts. This work defies the over presented white male narrative that has become a staple in the art world and made it my own.

In doing so, I am creating art that focuses on me as an individual and my culture. By taking recognizable scenes and using icons that allude to well-known works and reimagining them, I can take control of this narrative and provide a framework for the audience. I also challenge contemporary work by adding to existing pieces.

My work confronts exclusion and at the same time shows the power of appropriation. It’s ironic, yet powerful. I use a bright and vibrant color palette in my work to show the vitality of my culture. My works seem flat in nature because, although I am taking very detailed and realistic works, I want to move away from the formality of the fine arts.

This is to show that even art that looks like mine is worthy of being exhibited in well-known museums and being considered high level art.

Adilene Garcia

Gamma Epsilon SPRING18 personal: @addiii.g art page: @garciaa.gallery business page: @bussinbeautybar

Representation of POCs in fine art and our experiences are still not as easily seen as our white counterparts.