By Fletcher Word
The Truth Editor
“Art and activism help us to think about Martin Luther King in a more wholistic way,” said Lanisa Kitchiner, PhD, Chief, African and Middle Eastern Division at The Library of Congress and director of Education and Scholarly Initiatives at the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, during a panel discussion at the Toledo Museum of Art’s celebration of MLK Day this past Monday.
“King awarded us a moral fabric … with such persuasive power, such poetic skill,” she added. “We must think of him as an artist.”
And thus the discussion began about the connection between art and activism. The panel, moderated by Jennifer McCary, PhD, Chief Culture and Brand Experience Officer at TMA, explored the issue as it related to Dr. King’s contribution to both art and activism.
The other Art Is Activism’s panelists were artist/activist Yusef Lateef, performance artist/activist Youseff Baddarr and activist Anthony King.
The Art Is Activism Panel was just a part of TMA’s MLK Day celebration, which also included a performance by cellist Damon Coleman, a BGSU Pan-Hellenic Council Performance, a Local-Eyes Brenda Singletary Tour and a host of art-related activities throughout the museum.
Art, said Anthony king, enables Dr. King to “endure his trials and tribulations. “Art is the fuel behind activism, it opens us the joy of activism.”
Baddarr, whose primary focus as an activist has been on the struggles faced by those in his native land, Palestine. He agreed on the importance of art as a means of sustaining the activists’ struggles.
“Activism requires endurance,” said Baddarr. “You have to be resilient to be an activist … Palestine has been under oppression for 75 years and art keeps them going.” As an example, Baddarr explained the significance of the traditional scarf worn by many Palestinians which reflects the unity and persistence of those within that struggle.
“[Art] will center you and help you recognize your humanity,” said Lateef. “You are an activist when you try to reach for your best self and you are an artist.”
TMA’s “More Than A Dream” holiday celebration started at 11 a.m. on Monday – normally the museum is closed on Mondays – and lasted until 5 p.m., concluding with a spoken word workshop late in the afternoon.
