[Music] growing up as a military child I was
growing up as a military child I was
growing up as a military child I was afforded the opportunity that not many
afforded the opportunity that not many
afforded the opportunity that not many get the chance to experience I grew up
get the chance to experience I grew up
get the chance to experience I grew up in Naples Italy for 15 years my family
in Naples Italy for 15 years my family
in Naples Italy for 15 years my family and I lived there and my parents because
and I lived there and my parents because
and I lived there and my parents because they were from Montgomery Alabama made
they were from Montgomery Alabama made
they were from Montgomery Alabama made sure that they provided their children
sure that they provided their children
sure that they provided their children with the opportunity to see things that
with the opportunity to see things that
with the opportunity to see things that we would not have otherwise been able to
we would not have otherwise been able to
we would not have otherwise been able to see so we traveled all over Italy my
see so we traveled all over Italy my
see so we traveled all over Italy my favorite thing to do was to travel up
favorite thing to do was to travel up
favorite thing to do was to travel up and down the Amalfi Coast I love to go
and down the Amalfi Coast I love to go
and down the Amalfi Coast I love to go to Venice to Florence to Pisa but my
to Venice to Florence to Pisa but my
to Venice to Florence to Pisa but my most favorite thing to do was to spend
most favorite thing to do was to spend
most favorite thing to do was to spend time in Rome at the Sistine Chapel at
time in Rome at the Sistine Chapel at
time in Rome at the Sistine Chapel at the Sistine Chapel that’s where everyone
the Sistine Chapel that’s where everyone
the Sistine Chapel that’s where everyone congregates from all around the world
congregates from all around the world
congregates from all around the world people who appreciate and love fine art
people who appreciate and love fine art
people who appreciate and love fine art and so while I’m standing there looking
and so while I’m standing there looking
and so while I’m standing there looking up with my head tilted back at the
up with my head tilted back at the
up with my head tilted back at the ceiling I’m surrounded by people of all
ceiling I’m surrounded by people of all
ceiling I’m surrounded by people of all different nationalities all different
different nationalities all different
different nationalities all different races all different ages and we’re all
races all different ages and we’re all
races all different ages and we’re all looking at the frescoes that
looking at the frescoes that
looking at the frescoes that Michelangelo painted in the early 1500s
Michelangelo painted in the early 1500s
Michelangelo painted in the early 1500s in admiration but one thing that really
in admiration but one thing that really
in admiration but one thing that really stood out to me was this feeling deep
stood out to me was this feeling deep
stood out to me was this feeling deep down inside that while I’m looking at
down inside that while I’m looking at
down inside that while I’m looking at something that I think is extremely
something that I think is extremely
something that I think is extremely beautiful I don’t see myself reflected
beautiful I don’t see myself reflected
beautiful I don’t see myself reflected in it so what does that mean what does
in it so what does that mean what does
in it so what does that mean what does it mean to internalize something that
it mean to internalize something that
it mean to internalize something that centuries and centuries of people have
centuries and centuries of people have
centuries and centuries of people have exalted as extremely beautiful but you
exalted as extremely beautiful but you
exalted as extremely beautiful but you don’t look like anything that’s
don’t look like anything that’s
don’t look like anything that’s represented in it and so these are the
represented in it and so these are the
represented in it and so these are the questions that I started to ask myself
questions that I started to ask myself
questions that I started to ask myself as a child but I never thought to
as a child but I never thought to
as a child but I never thought to verbalize them to anyone else because
verbalize them to anyone else because
verbalize them to anyone else because what a sin is it to say that you have a
what a sin is it to say that you have a
what a sin is it to say that you have a problem with Michelangelo’s Sistine
problem with Michelangelo’s Sistine
problem with Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel right but I had a real problem
Chapel right but I had a real problem
Chapel right but I had a real problem with that
with that
with that and so I grappled with that as a child
and so I grappled with that as a child
and so I grappled with that as a child it wasn’t until I became older that I
it wasn’t until I became older that I
it wasn’t until I became older that I finally realized that there was a lot of
finally realized that there was a lot of
finally realized that there was a lot of things going around around the world
things going around around the world
things going around around the world that were not what was happening in Rome
that were not what was happening in Rome
that were not what was happening in Rome at the time while Michelangelo was
at the time while Michelangelo was
at the time while Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel Africans
painting the Sistine Chapel Africans
painting the Sistine Chapel Africans were being transported from Africa to
were being transported from Africa to
were being transported from Africa to the island of Hispaniola
the island of Hispaniola
the island of Hispaniola which is now Haiti and the Dominican
which is now Haiti and the Dominican
which is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic so while we saw this years
Republic so while we saw this years
Republic so while we saw this years later if I’m reflecting back honestly
later if I’m reflecting back honestly
later if I’m reflecting back honestly and I’m getting a full picture of
and I’m getting a full picture of
and I’m getting a full picture of history Africans were being transported
history Africans were being transported
history Africans were being transported somewhere to be used as slave labor
somewhere to be used as slave labor
somewhere to be used as slave labor while in Europe white people were being
while in Europe white people were being
while in Europe white people were being exalted and immortalized for centuries
exalted and immortalized for centuries
exalted and immortalized for centuries and centuries to come and so this led me
and centuries to come and so this led me
and centuries to come and so this led me on a track on a journey to really
on a track on a journey to really
on a track on a journey to really understand what happens when you look at
understand what happens when you look at
understand what happens when you look at a piece of art that reflects human
a piece of art that reflects human
a piece of art that reflects human experience but your experience is not
experience but your experience is not
experience but your experience is not reflected in that so I am a cognitive
reflected in that so I am a cognitive
reflected in that so I am a cognitive psychologist well at least I’m studying
psychologist well at least I’m studying
psychologist well at least I’m studying to be a cognitive psychologist hopefully
to be a cognitive psychologist hopefully
to be a cognitive psychologist hopefully at the University of Alabama and what I
at the University of Alabama and what I
at the University of Alabama and what I look at is cognition which is the study
look at is cognition which is the study
look at is cognition which is the study of the mind and the processes that it
of the mind and the processes that it
of the mind and the processes that it goes through the way that it stores
goes through the way that it stores
goes through the way that it stores retrieves and codes information and I
retrieves and codes information and I
retrieves and codes information and I also look at art this idea that whatever
also look at art this idea that whatever
also look at art this idea that whatever is created is reflective of the human
is created is reflective of the human
is created is reflective of the human experience and my journey is to look at
experience and my journey is to look at
experience and my journey is to look at how those two things converge and what
how those two things converge and what
how those two things converge and what those things can teach us now as
those things can teach us now as
those things can teach us now as psychologists have to do I dug and dug
psychologists have to do I dug and dug
psychologists have to do I dug and dug and dug in the research and I had to
and dug in the research and I had to
and dug in the research and I had to come up with some kind of empirical
come up with some kind of empirical
come up with some kind of empirical finding that happened which grounded my
finding that happened which grounded my
finding that happened which grounded my research and what I was looking at I
research and what I was looking at I
research and what I was looking at I found a groundswell of one article and
found a groundswell of one article and
found a groundswell of one article and I’m running with that article
I’m running with that article
I’m running with that article now that article was by a psychologist
now that article was by a psychologist
now that article was by a psychologist named Ronald Knepper oude and he came up
named Ronald Knepper oude and he came up
named Ronald Knepper oude and he came up with this idea to actually research how
with this idea to actually research how
with this idea to actually research how blacks and whites viewed black visual
blacks and whites viewed black visual
blacks and whites viewed black visual art and so Ronald Knepper conducted this
art and so Ronald Knepper conducted this
art and so Ronald Knepper conducted this study in 1996 and what he found is that
study in 1996 and what he found is that
study in 1996 and what he found is that in fact blacks and whites do not view
in fact blacks and whites do not view
in fact blacks and whites do not view black visual art in the same way he said
black visual art in the same way he said
black visual art in the same way he said that they actually view black that
that they actually view black that
that they actually view black that whites actually view black visual art
whites actually view black visual art
whites actually view black visual art less favorably now Ronald neferu posited
less favorably now Ronald neferu posited
less favorably now Ronald neferu posited that this was probably so because blacks
that this was probably so because blacks
that this was probably so because blacks and whites do not have the same shared
and whites do not have the same shared
and whites do not have the same shared experiences and so just as art is
experiences and so just as art is
experiences and so just as art is created out of out of a field
created out of out of a field
created out of out of a field or an experience that the artist has had
or an experience that the artist has had
or an experience that the artist has had the person that is looking at a piece of
the person that is looking at a piece of
the person that is looking at a piece of artwork also brings their experiences to
artwork also brings their experiences to
artwork also brings their experiences to the table in order to perceive and have
the table in order to perceive and have
the table in order to perceive and have a moment with that piece of art so what
a moment with that piece of art so what
a moment with that piece of art so what Ronald Knepper Root said basically was
Ronald Knepper Root said basically was
Ronald Knepper Root said basically was that if white folks don’t have the same
that if white folks don’t have the same
that if white folks don’t have the same historical understandings feelings
historical understandings feelings
historical understandings feelings cognition collective memory belief
cognition collective memory belief
cognition collective memory belief systems that are portrayed in black
systems that are portrayed in black
systems that are portrayed in black visual art and created by black artists
visual art and created by black artists
visual art and created by black artists they’re not going to effectively
they’re not going to effectively
they’re not going to effectively resonate with that piece of art now I
resonate with that piece of art now I
resonate with that piece of art now I doubt a little bit deeper because I
doubt a little bit deeper because I
doubt a little bit deeper because I thought this was extremely fascinating
thought this was extremely fascinating
thought this was extremely fascinating and I was extremely excited because what
and I was extremely excited because what
and I was extremely excited because what I thought standing beneath
I thought standing beneath
I thought standing beneath Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine
Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine
Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine Chapel was finally turning out to have
Chapel was finally turning out to have
Chapel was finally turning out to have some merit there is something different
some merit there is something different
some merit there is something different there with the experiences that we bring
there with the experiences that we bring
there with the experiences that we bring to a piece of art so I got to thinking
to a piece of art so I got to thinking
to a piece of art so I got to thinking well what can I do with this and so I’m
well what can I do with this and so I’m
well what can I do with this and so I’m still researching I’m digging I’m trying
still researching I’m digging I’m trying
still researching I’m digging I’m trying to find something to hang my thoughts on
to find something to hang my thoughts on
to find something to hang my thoughts on and I get a phone call from my cousin
and I get a phone call from my cousin
and I get a phone call from my cousin who was a painter now my cousin is a
who was a painter now my cousin is a
who was a painter now my cousin is a painter who lives in New York and he
painter who lives in New York and he
painter who lives in New York and he paints the most beautiful images he’s he
paints the most beautiful images he’s he
paints the most beautiful images he’s he get puts me in the mind of jean-michel
get puts me in the mind of jean-michel
get puts me in the mind of jean-michel basquiat and so he takes these images
basquiat and so he takes these images
basquiat and so he takes these images and he goes around New York and he does
and he goes around New York and he does
and he goes around New York and he does different art shows but his favorite
different art shows but his favorite
different art shows but his favorite thing to do is to just stand on the
thing to do is to just stand on the
thing to do is to just stand on the street corner and show his art and so
street corner and show his art and so
street corner and show his art and so what this does that invites people to
what this does that invites people to
what this does that invites people to come and have difficult dialogues and
come and have difficult dialogues and
come and have difficult dialogues and discussions around the certain things
discussions around the certain things
discussions around the certain things that he portrays in his art one day my
that he portrays in his art one day my
that he portrays in his art one day my cousin called me and he told me that he
cousin called me and he told me that he
cousin called me and he told me that he had been arrested because a police
had been arrested because a police
had been arrested because a police officer saw painting that he had in a
officer saw painting that he had in a
officer saw painting that he had in a subway and he was offended by the
subway and he was offended by the
subway and he was offended by the painting now the painting is this
painting now the painting is this
painting now the painting is this painting behind me it’s called cops and
painting behind me it’s called cops and
painting behind me it’s called cops and as you can see this this painting is
as you can see this this painting is
as you can see this this painting is showing a police officer in an
showing a police officer in an
showing a police officer in an aggressive stance and so the police
aggressive stance and so the police
aggressive stance and so the police officer was not too happy with this
officer was not too happy with this
officer was not too happy with this image because he felt that it painted
image because he felt that it painted
image because he felt that it painted his brothers in blue in a very negative
his brothers in blue in a very negative
his brothers in blue in a very negative light during this time it was at the
light during this time it was at the
light during this time it was at the height of the black lives versus the
height of the black lives versus the
height of the black lives versus the blue lives matter movement
blue lives matter movement
blue lives matter movement and so this was kind of a rough topic at
and so this was kind of a rough topic at
and so this was kind of a rough topic at the time so when my cousin called me and
the time so when my cousin called me and
the time so when my cousin called me and told me this it really drove home this
told me this it really drove home this
told me this it really drove home this idea that while he thought this painting
idea that while he thought this painting
idea that while he thought this painting would bring some much-needed dialogue
would bring some much-needed dialogue
would bring some much-needed dialogue and discussion around a particular issue
and discussion around a particular issue
and discussion around a particular issue that was polarized in our country this
that was polarized in our country this
that was polarized in our country this police officer saw the same painting and
police officer saw the same painting and
police officer saw the same painting and had a completely different experience
had a completely different experience
had a completely different experience from it
from it
from it this also led me to believe that I might
this also led me to believe that I might
this also led me to believe that I might be on the right track to something so I
be on the right track to something so I
be on the right track to something so I kept digging a little bit deeper and a
kept digging a little bit deeper and a
kept digging a little bit deeper and a little bit deeper and I came up with
little bit deeper and I came up with
little bit deeper and I came up with another article a recent article that
another article a recent article that
another article a recent article that just came out of Montclair State
just came out of Montclair State
just came out of Montclair State University by a researcher named John
University by a researcher named John
University by a researcher named John Paul Wilson now John Paul Wilson did a
Paul Wilson now John Paul Wilson did a
Paul Wilson now John Paul Wilson did a study where he actually took images
study where he actually took images
study where he actually took images there were superimposed of black folks
there were superimposed of black folks
there were superimposed of black folks and images that were superimposed of
and images that were superimposed of
and images that were superimposed of white folks who are of the same body
white folks who are of the same body
white folks who are of the same body build mass and physical makeup the only
build mass and physical makeup the only
build mass and physical makeup the only difference was their skin color
difference was their skin color
difference was their skin color he found that overwhelmingly so white
he found that overwhelmingly so white
he found that overwhelmingly so white participants in his study said that the
participants in his study said that the
participants in his study said that the white folks who were superimposed were
white folks who were superimposed were
white folks who were superimposed were more threatening than those who were
more threatening than those who were
more threatening than those who were black simply because of their skin color
black simply because of their skin color
black simply because of their skin color and nothing else I thought this was
and nothing else I thought this was
and nothing else I thought this was extremely fascinating and it led me to
extremely fascinating and it led me to
extremely fascinating and it led me to understand that this whole issue of a
understand that this whole issue of a
understand that this whole issue of a value system that has been placed on the
value system that has been placed on the
value system that has been placed on the black body it’s consistently being
black body it’s consistently being
black body it’s consistently being perpetuated in our system in ways that
perpetuated in our system in ways that
perpetuated in our system in ways that we don’t even recognize cognitively we
we don’t even recognize cognitively we
we don’t even recognize cognitively we are responding to things and we don’t
are responding to things and we don’t
are responding to things and we don’t necessarily realize that they are even
necessarily realize that they are even
necessarily realize that they are even ingrained in us so this is the important
ingrained in us so this is the important
ingrained in us so this is the important part of actually looking at visual
part of actually looking at visual
part of actually looking at visual stimuli and taking a concerted effort to
stimuli and taking a concerted effort to
stimuli and taking a concerted effort to figure out how we perceive things that
figure out how we perceive things that
figure out how we perceive things that we look at these are the images that he
we look at these are the images that he
we look at these are the images that he use or similar images like this he used
use or similar images like this he used
use or similar images like this he used in a study as you can see the faces are
in a study as you can see the faces are
in a study as you can see the faces are not shown but the body the body mass and
not shown but the body the body mass and
not shown but the body the body mass and the body style is consistently different
the body style is consistently different
the body style is consistently different throughout these three different people
throughout these three different people
throughout these three different people now what John Paul Wilson did was that
now what John Paul Wilson did was that
now what John Paul Wilson did was that he actually changed the skin color just
he actually changed the skin color just
he actually changed the skin color just a little bit and had the participants
a little bit and had the participants
a little bit and had the participants rate each of these images to say
rate each of these images to say
rate each of these images to say which one they thought was more
which one they thought was more
which one they thought was more threatening so why does this matter why
threatening so why does this matter why
threatening so why does this matter why do we care that that images need to be
do we care that that images need to be
do we care that that images need to be rated or that we have some type of issue
rated or that we have some type of issue
rated or that we have some type of issue amongst the different races with
amongst the different races with
amongst the different races with perception well it matters because
perception well it matters because
perception well it matters because Philander Castile
Philander Castile
Philander Castile it matters because of Mike Brown it
it matters because of Mike Brown it
it matters because of Mike Brown it matters because of Trayvon Martin in
matters because of Trayvon Martin in
matters because of Trayvon Martin in 2015 the Huffington Post released a
2015 the Huffington Post released a
2015 the Huffington Post released a startling startling article that said
startling startling article that said
startling startling article that said 2015 was the worst year in America for
2015 was the worst year in America for
2015 was the worst year in America for the killing of the black man since the
the killing of the black man since the
the killing of the black man since the worst year of lynching in America this
worst year of lynching in America this
worst year of lynching in America this is a startling finding but it’s a
is a startling finding but it’s a
is a startling finding but it’s a fighting that we need to be paying
fighting that we need to be paying
fighting that we need to be paying attention to and my understanding and my
attention to and my understanding and my
attention to and my understanding and my perception is that the best way to have
perception is that the best way to have
perception is that the best way to have the difficult dialogues and
the difficult dialogues and
the difficult dialogues and conversations is to come and meet at a
conversations is to come and meet at a
conversations is to come and meet at a place where we all care about which is
place where we all care about which is
place where we all care about which is art
art
art everybody loves art everybody feels
everybody loves art everybody feels
everybody loves art everybody feels something when they see a piece of art
something when they see a piece of art
something when they see a piece of art so why not start the conversation there
so why not start the conversation there
so why not start the conversation there William Edward Burghardt Du Bois who as
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois who as
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois who as a sociologist would agree that that
a sociologist would agree that that
a sociologist would agree that that might be the best place to start in 1908
might be the best place to start in 1908
might be the best place to start in 1908 and his souls of black folks he said
and his souls of black folks he said
and his souls of black folks he said that the problem of the 20th century was
that the problem of the 20th century was
that the problem of the 20th century was the problem of the color line in 1920 he
the problem of the color line in 1920 he
the problem of the color line in 1920 he said that the only way to eradicate this
said that the only way to eradicate this
said that the only way to eradicate this invisible color line was to use art I am
invisible color line was to use art I am
invisible color line was to use art I am on the journey to figure out how we
on the journey to figure out how we
on the journey to figure out how we might best be able to do that thank
might best be able to do that thank
might best be able to do that thank [Applause]
”
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