Disobedience is being Black or Brown

by Victor Garcia

Disobedience-is-Being-Black-or-Brown-art-by-Victor-Garcia-1014-web-146x300, Disobedience is being Black or Brown, Culture Currents
“Disobedience is Being Black or Brown” – Art: Victor Garcia

I’ve been drawing all my life, drawing with everything but paint, but most of my art had no meaning. Other artists I have seen in the Bay View and other publications have inspired me to create this piece, which carries a message:

The pit bull, well, he represents America. Pit bulls are the most discriminated against, profiled, mistreated and executed dogs and the majority in any animal shelter in the USA – just like African Americans and Hispanics.

The baby in handcuffs represents the young boys torn away from their mothers or society to be eternally incarcerated in men’s penitentiaries – thus the “SB260” on the breast plate. The stripes on the jumpsuit and the American flag represent the bars that keep us captive.

The border wall, the crosses, the skull – those are the countless lives claimed by the murderous desert and all the dangers of the border. The boy above pleads for help.

The boy below holding the stuffed bear is turned back at the border, grief stricken because his mom is in the U.S.

The target banner riddled with bullet holes and the police beating represents everyday America – the Michael Browns, Trayvon Martins … human targets.

Barack Obama represents the power that is negated – the killings and impunitive injustices on his watch. Disobedience is being Black or Brown.

The devil represents hate, which he breeds into men’s hearts.

Send our brother some love and light: Victor Garcia, T-74427, PBSP SHU C1-114, P.O. Box 7500, Crescent City CA 95532.