Black Love Through Art

By: Alexis Shoats

There are infinite ways to showcase Black love positively. Art happens to be a favored medium and visual way to enjoy Black love. One we cannot take for granted especially to spread positive messaging because Black relationships were not always supported in the United States. During slavery, their union was often not respected nor considered “legal” under state laws before the Civil War. Slave owners would frequently separate couples as a form of punishment, sell off spouses and children, and sexually abuse slave wives.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 gave Black people the legal right to be married, and in 2015 the Supreme Court struck down bans in all 50 states, legalizing same-sex marriage across the nation. Both of these serve as critical moments that have legally allowed Black love to be recognized, however it is still a struggle to see positive representation and acknowledgment in multidisciplinary spaces and in the media.

The Signal by Toyin Ojih Odutola. Two people sitting by each other affectionately.

Oftentimes there is a negative narrative pushed through multiple channels online and through media. It can be intentional and other times not. Regardless, harmful stereotypes are continuously pushed, and must be countered by real stories and public displays of positive Black love. Art allows for Black relationships to be viewed across the globe in some of the most prestigious museums, and even outside the four walls of our institution's art can be found on every block, in every alley, on the sides of buildings, and is sold by artists themselves. Art can send a message instantly and relay positive messaging about Black love. 

My first encounter with art that represented Black love, was inside mall galleries (in Black neighborhoods). The ones that were furnished with local art, prints, and Christian Black art (i.e. prayer hands, etc.). As a young girl, I always frequented these stores with my mom as she shopped for a new piece for the house. I'm pretty sure after Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008, she ran out to buy a portrait of the first family from election night. That was the beauty of having these stores in the neighborhood—it was the one place you knew you could find Black art. Representation was a guarantee when you walked through the door. 

Pictures of Weddings by Tyler Mitchell. A couple poses in their wedding dress and creme suit against a romantic backdrop. Both gaze into the camera while holding hands.

This left a profound impact on me and has even impacted how I've fashioned my apartment's interior. Not only is Black art imperative to help combat negative messaging surrounding Black familial life, but is equally important for our race to consume. Like manifestations, we must reinforce positive narratives in our homes to have a long-lasting impact on our communities. Outside of the home, we must continue pushing for more inclusion. Having the opportunity to consume art (Black love) from across the world in your community is another approach that chips away at the stereotypes rooted in racism. Black Love by Carrie Mae Weems, The Signal by Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Pictures of Weddings by Tyler Mitchell are all pieces that have debuted in acclaimed galleries and museums with the message to uplift Black love of all sexual orientations.

Black Love by Carrie Mae Weems. Weems stands inside in front of the entry door while speaking with a man who is outside.

In addition to our interior and the places we inhabit throughout society, our social ecosystem also plays a vital role. The Instagram page Black Archives founded by Renata Cherlise is "A multimedia platform that brings a spotlight to the Black experience." The page has received a strong following by showing the Black experience via photographs sourced from public libraries, acclaimed foundations, photographers, and family photo albums. Cherlise has found a way to center Blackness in a pocket of the internet, and the effects have been felt by those in our community as well as those outside it. That is the goal for Black love through art.