Voter’s Choice Painting

What does it mean to exercise the right to vote from an artist's perspective? While creating this piece, I wanted to sit down with a few other artists and find out what it meant to them to vote as black men. For some voting is not just about change but a duty to the ancestors that fought so hard to have the right to represent our people, our families, our beliefs, values and customs. The empowerment of the vote is a direct way to build a new direction in your household and in your kids’ future. Time and time again it has come down to the black vote to have any kind of economic stability for our people. What happens when it’s time for you to stand up and be heard and you don’t! Our ancestors took every opportunity they could to make themselves heard, and to move the future in a better direction for all of us that came after. The youth of today are looking at us to learn not only about the right of voting, but how different issues can move the future in a prosperous or destructive manner. As we protest, march and shout from the pews, we must also take the time to sit down with each other and make sure we understand what’s at stake as we make our Voters Choice.