BLack lives matter

The events of 2020 have been a rollercoaster of extreme highs and extreme lows. One of the major lows was seeing a Black man murdered in broad daylight at the hands of a White police officer while the community and the world watched. After that event I created this.

Below are the thoughts and feelings I had during the creation of this illustration.

In the past couple of weeks, I've been through a lot of emotions. I’ve been pissed, enraged, upset, and heavy-hearted to name a few. To watch a Black man's life be snuffed out by a White police officer over the course of minutes in broad daylight while people from the community watched helplessly was devastating. One of the things that have been the hardest to deal with throughout this is the world's reaction to George Floyd's murder. I think the response has been great and is bringing a lot of attention to the Black community, police brutality, and racial injustice in this country, but these problems aren't new. This has been happening for centuries. The only way you didn't know about this is because you've chosen to ignore it or you are so privileged that you have little to no interaction with the Black community throughout your daily life.

With all these thoughts and feelings, I didn’t know what to do or how to deal with it. Last week my friends at Coat of Arms reached out to me, asking if I would create an illustration about everything that’s been happening. It couldn’t have come at a better time and I am honored and so grateful for it.

I'm not an activist, I'm not in a position of power to make real change, I’m worried about protesting in large gatherings because of Covid19 and how it’s disproportionally affecting the Black community on top of the ongoing police brutality. What I can do is create. I can share my perspective. This is my way of protesting. In this image, a defenseless Black man kneels with his hands high in the air. Trying everything in his power to show that he poses no threat. A pair of White hands grip his neck from behind, suffocating him. All while the world watches him burn.

Every day, new photos and videos of police brutality are being captured from around the country. The world watches and yet no one is held accountable. No one with the power has done anything to stop this. It frustrates and terrifies me that with all of this evidence, people are still just watching. At times I feel helpless. Other times I’m hopeful. I don’t know when this is going to end, but until then I’m going to keep creating.

The Deets

CREDITS

Commissioned by Coat of Arms

Concept: Sam Bass
Design/Illustration: Sam Bass