The Color Line: Black and White Aesthetic Values | Barbara-Shae Jackson | TEDxTuscaloosa

[Music]

[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]