Options
Its OK to hate the white man
truroute
Posts: 251
Speak of hating white people, and its art.
Speak of hating black(or any other) and its racist, allowing "Rev" Jackson and Sharpton to charge in and do what ever it is they do.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/03/28/0328art.html
City displays racially charged art
Text on artwork says it is "OK to hate the white man"
By DAVID PENDERED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/28/07
A piece of art that raises a stark question about race relations in America is hanging in a gallery at Atlanta's City Hall East.
The display, a collection of 33 U.S. flags, includes two sentences with no punctuation: "Politically its OK to hate the white man" and, "Is it OK for me to hate if Ive been a victim"
The piece was approved by the curator of the gallery in a building that functions as a satellite campus of Atlanta City Hall. The annual Pin-Up Show, which opened Friday, provides emerging artists with a venue to display their works, said Myra Reeves, spokeswoman for the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
Robbie Bussey strolled through the gallery during her lunch break from a conference in the building. She paused in front of just one out of 23 displays — the one by Decatur artist Alvaro Alvillar that's titled, "Formula for Hate."
Bussey read the first sentence and said the painting's message could be interpreted as a racist comment.
"Whoever the artist is is making a statement about what they think America is about," Bussey said. "It's kind of racist, depending on where you stand. But everyone has a right to voice what they feel. That's what America is about."
Then she read the second line.
"That's a good question," Bussey said. "You have to think about what answer you have to that. It depends where you are spiritually and with your maturity. I know I can hate, but I know spiritually that I can't. This does make me think."
Alvillar said Wednesday he hoped his piece would promote conversations about race relations, which he said is one of the more contentious issues of modern life.
"What I'm trying to say is that right now, the only politically correct form of prejudice is that anyone can say anything about a white person," Alvillar said. "I think that's wrong, but it happens to be a reality and that is the idea of the first sentence. The second sentence is made to make you think about where you stand if you have been a victim."
Reeves said the curator, Freddie Styles, approved the artists and pieces displayed in the Pin-Up Show. Styles' goal was to provide a venue for artists in metro Atlanta who are not well known but have potential for a wider audience. The artists are not paid, Reeves said. The selection process amounts to Styles inviting a diverse group of artists to participate, Reeves said.
Reeves said the city has no plans to remove the piece: "We're not censoring freedom of expression."
Alvillar said his piece is not exactly what he would like to have displayed. He could have honed his message with a bit more space, but had room for just three rows of 11 flags, two letters on each flag. Alvillar said his first choice for the first sentence just didn't fit: "Politically, is it OK to hate the white man?"
"So I turned the first sentence into a statement that also is a question," he said. "When I was hanging it someone heard a guy use the word, 'outrageous.' And it is outrageous. That's the point."
Speak of hating black(or any other) and its racist, allowing "Rev" Jackson and Sharpton to charge in and do what ever it is they do.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/03/28/0328art.html
City displays racially charged art
Text on artwork says it is "OK to hate the white man"
By DAVID PENDERED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/28/07
A piece of art that raises a stark question about race relations in America is hanging in a gallery at Atlanta's City Hall East.
The display, a collection of 33 U.S. flags, includes two sentences with no punctuation: "Politically its OK to hate the white man" and, "Is it OK for me to hate if Ive been a victim"
The piece was approved by the curator of the gallery in a building that functions as a satellite campus of Atlanta City Hall. The annual Pin-Up Show, which opened Friday, provides emerging artists with a venue to display their works, said Myra Reeves, spokeswoman for the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
Robbie Bussey strolled through the gallery during her lunch break from a conference in the building. She paused in front of just one out of 23 displays — the one by Decatur artist Alvaro Alvillar that's titled, "Formula for Hate."
Bussey read the first sentence and said the painting's message could be interpreted as a racist comment.
"Whoever the artist is is making a statement about what they think America is about," Bussey said. "It's kind of racist, depending on where you stand. But everyone has a right to voice what they feel. That's what America is about."
Then she read the second line.
"That's a good question," Bussey said. "You have to think about what answer you have to that. It depends where you are spiritually and with your maturity. I know I can hate, but I know spiritually that I can't. This does make me think."
Alvillar said Wednesday he hoped his piece would promote conversations about race relations, which he said is one of the more contentious issues of modern life.
"What I'm trying to say is that right now, the only politically correct form of prejudice is that anyone can say anything about a white person," Alvillar said. "I think that's wrong, but it happens to be a reality and that is the idea of the first sentence. The second sentence is made to make you think about where you stand if you have been a victim."
Reeves said the curator, Freddie Styles, approved the artists and pieces displayed in the Pin-Up Show. Styles' goal was to provide a venue for artists in metro Atlanta who are not well known but have potential for a wider audience. The artists are not paid, Reeves said. The selection process amounts to Styles inviting a diverse group of artists to participate, Reeves said.
Reeves said the city has no plans to remove the piece: "We're not censoring freedom of expression."
Alvillar said his piece is not exactly what he would like to have displayed. He could have honed his message with a bit more space, but had room for just three rows of 11 flags, two letters on each flag. Alvillar said his first choice for the first sentence just didn't fit: "Politically, is it OK to hate the white man?"
"So I turned the first sentence into a statement that also is a question," he said. "When I was hanging it someone heard a guy use the word, 'outrageous.' And it is outrageous. That's the point."
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
Unfortunately 92% of the population don't seem to be able to comprehend statements like that.
Interesting little world we live in.
Me too, and I've been called racist for it.
did you even bother to read the article you posted? the artist isn't advocating hate for white people or victimization.
damn, how long have you bottled that sentiment?
As a statement "it's politically OK to hate the white man" is true ata teh present time. The artist does not say that it should be OK, only that it seems to be. He is challenging the idea that it is OK for this to be OK ! OK ??
The second sentence is also asking very good questions. If you have been a victim, then it is OK to hate. This is pretty much the justification that is used to making hating white men OK. Our ancestors were slaves so it's OK to hate you. My father was an abusive alcohiolic so it's OK to be violent myself, or to rip you off, or to jack the system.
I thnk the curator made the right call. To ban these pieces would be censorship operating in the worst way !!
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
no, he's pointing out the ridiculous double standard.
Hey, I thought it was your sig that used to say art was meant to discomfort the comfortable or something like that ??