Summary
Ex-NFL Quarterback enlisted Emory Douglas to create art centered around abolishing police and closing prisons, which will be the front cover of his book "ABOLITION FOR THE PEOPLE: THE MOVEMENT FOR A FUTURE WITHOUT POLICING & PRISONS" on 10/12/21 .
The art cover depicts the image of a militant, Dark Skinned Black Woman whom is alone and promoting this agenda that will negatively impact Dark Skinned Black Women the most.
This art piece is dangerous for the image and safety of Dark Skinned Black Women as it politicizes our phenotype, and perpetuates negative stereotypes that Dark Skinned Black Women are angry, masculine, and front line soldiers, ready to battle the law enforcement system and places us as the face of anarchy.
We, as Dark Skinned Black Women who oppose this image, DO NOT support abolishing the police or closing prisons as we need Good Police Officers for protection of our children and ourselves.
I, Paris Milan, on the behalf of Dark Skinned Black Women, am requesting Colin and Emory change the image to either a biracial man or a black man as the art is damaging to the collective image and SAFETY of dark skinned black women as it places a target on our backs.
Backstory
Ex-Nfl Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick has recently announced the release date of his new book "ABOLITION FOR THE PEOPLE: THE MOVEMENT FOR A FUTURE WITHOUT POLICING & PRISONS" on 10/12/21.
Unfortunately, the art cover created by artist and Ex-Black Panther Emory Douglas, displays a Dark Skinned Black Woman promoting "Abolish the Police and Close the Prisons". This art is harmful to the image of particularly Dark Skinned Black Women who are often promoted in the media as loud, undesired, aggressive, masculine, combative, and promotes the false agenda that Dark Skinned Black Women are an oppositional force to law enforcement. This will contribute to more instances of us being the recipients of rampant wounding misogynoir. We are already a marginalized, unprotected, and ignored group who have the highest rates of intraracial related domestic violence, and this art cover going mainstream will further contribute to our mistreatment in society.
Art is so very powerful to promote desired portrayals. As stated on twitter by Dark Skinned Gentlewoman, Jim Crow art pieces were often utilized to dehumanize black people, and perpetuate racial propaganda that resulted in many black people being depicted as lazy, uneducated, and worthless caricatures who were undeserving of a quality of life as whites were. Black people fought to get these images removed from media because the racist depictions stripped them of their dignity, humanity, and in some cases their lives. This art and others that displays Dark Skinned Black Girls and Women as Social Justice Martyrs willing to prioritize fighting systemic issues over prioritizing our safety and well being, can have the same harmful effects to our imagery longterm.
SOLUTION: I am requesting that Colin and artist Emory Douglas , will change the book cover to either a Biracial Man whom resembles Colin's image, or a Black Man as they state they are most affected by the policing system and should be the face of fighting said entities.
Our hair is not a revolutionary act. Our skin is not a political statement. And our fuller features are not a think piece. Darker Skinned Black Women deserve to be represented in positive lights that highlight our womanhood, femininity, and confidence. Please stop using the most overworked, underserved, recipients of misogynoir and colorism, to be the face of your movements at the expense of our image and safety. Thank you.
