Mini Post: American People Series #20: Die

American People Series #20: Die 

Most of Ringgold's paintings represent the random violence and the race riots that existed in the early1960s. During that period of time, racism was still going on and it was only getting worse. Faith Ringgold, an African American woman who lived in that period of time, her only way of expressing her anger and sadness towards the treatment of her and her people was through art. She used the “Die” painting from her “American People Series” specifically to illustrate the randomness of the violence and racism that was happening at that time period. Therefore, we see that idea being symbolized in “the repeating adult figures” and the way that they were dressed. The exterior look of the characters in the artwork represents the idea that no one in the society is safe from violence. If we were to look closely at the figures that are painted, we see that everyone was afraid and horrified for their life, it didn't matter race or color of skin. Both black and white society members were fleeing. Adding on to that, if we look closely at the colors of the men's clothing, which is black and white, we realize that the emphasizes on that is that racism is the beginning of all violence. Another symbolic element is the two children that are holding/hugging each other in the middle of the artwork. They are from two completely different race, but yet have the same enemy, same mission, and the same fear. The main message and idea that Ringgold was trying to spread to her audience is that at the end of the day, we are all humans and we all have the same enemy, and dividing each other by skin color and differences in looks and culture will only cause more violence. No one is free from violence and pain. 



Source Link:https://www.theartstory.org/artist-ringgold-faith-artworks.htm