The poster I created for my tier three project has much symbolism. I believe that Americans evaluate progress through acceptance. Occasionally, it is brought to the attention of the public that a certain minority or group is not being accepted. The public then usually divides, either rallying for or against the minority or group. Usually, after much argument, the minority or group is accepted socially, and often, laws are made to guarantee their rights.
We can see this pattern of acceptance occurring all throughout America’s history. We can see it occurring during the time of slavery, all through segregation. We can see it occurring with minorities other than African American. Recently, we have seen it’s occurrence through abortion. Many people want the right to choose to be able to kill their babies, while some don’t accept that. America, however, now fully supports that group of people. We have also seen this through the LGBT community and the legal acceptance of gay marriage. Americans tend to equate all of these things, all of these forms of acceptance, with progress.
My poster is representative of the progress that occurred through the acceptance of African Americans. The poster is essentially a timeline, starting with slavery, and ending with modern day America. At the beginning of the poster/timeline, there is a cross. The cross is painted mostly white, and partly black. The color of the cross is meant to represent how during slavery, everything was divided between black and white, and the blacks generally got the short end of the stick. On the white side of the cross (standing on the ground next to it) is a white person holding a Bible. This shows how many whites justified slavery by taking Christianity out of context. On the black side of the cross is a black person hanging. This shows how the Christianity that was studied in that time period was a) not true and b) usually resulted in interpretations of the bible that didn't go well for the slaves. The person that is hanging is painted all black to show that the slaves didn't have an identity other than being black. All the white people saw was the color of their skin, and they never even tried to look past that.
Moving on down the poster, there is a small city/town. This part of the poster represents segregation. On one side, the grass is all dead, there are three poorly built houses, and there is a black female standing in front of one of the houses. This is the “black side.” The dead grass represents how poor the blacks often were during segregation because of their inferior education and because of how hard it was to get adequate employment. The houses are poorly built to show that blacks didn't have a lot of nice things. The houses also have no windows. This is to show how trapped the blacks must’ve felt during segregation. They had no control over their own lives. The houses are all black to show how everything during the time of segregation was very clearly labeled. There were things that were for whites only, and things that were set aside for blacks (usually because they were run down). The black female is to show how being African American wasn't the only problem. Females weren't fully accepted either. She isn’t, however, painted completely black. At this point in time, African Americans did have an identity, and the whites weren't totally blind to that fact, they just didn't really care.
The other side of the city on the poster is really nice. The grass is alive and green and there are even beautiful flowers growing all over. The houses are all white and are decorated with shrubbery. They houses have windows and real doors and the houses are (for the most part) larger. The grass, flowers, and shrubbery are representative of how it was easier for whites to make a living, due to good education and job opportunities. The white houses with windows are to represent how the whites were the only ones who really got to enjoy the freedoms that come with being American. They weren't trapped in bad circumstances, and if they were poor, they had the opportunity to make better for themselves. The big houses are to represent how the whites were generally richer than the blacks. The small houses show how even for the white families who were poor, they were still looked at as superior to blacks.
In the middle of the poster, between the two cities is a railroad. This is to show how innovation and growth made a difference in the acceptance of African Americans. It is also used to show how the poster is a timeline. The railroad leads all the way to the end of the poster, where it turns into a subway track. This end of the poster is a New York scene, but really just represents modern day America. On this end of the poster is a white person standing on what used to be the black side, and a black person standing on what used to be the white side. This shows how today (aside from people self-segregating) there is no segregation or slavery. African Americans are fully supported by the law and mostly supported by the American population. The black person on this end of the poster is also holding a Bible. This is to show how Christianity played a role in the acceptance of African Americans as well. At the beginning of the poster, Christianity was being taken out of context to justify slavery, but today that no longer happens. Christians see the bible for what it is, not for what they want it to be. The white female on this end of the poster is also supposed to represent how African Americans were not the only people who were accepted. Females of all races have also been accepted by both society and the law.
Overall, this poster is supposed to show progress, through acceptance, in many ways. It represents the struggles felt by people who weren't accepted, and it also shows how far we have come as a society. From hanging people, to accepting them and looking at them as equals, there has definitely been progress in America.
We can see this pattern of acceptance occurring all throughout America’s history. We can see it occurring during the time of slavery, all through segregation. We can see it occurring with minorities other than African American. Recently, we have seen it’s occurrence through abortion. Many people want the right to choose to be able to kill their babies, while some don’t accept that. America, however, now fully supports that group of people. We have also seen this through the LGBT community and the legal acceptance of gay marriage. Americans tend to equate all of these things, all of these forms of acceptance, with progress.
My poster is representative of the progress that occurred through the acceptance of African Americans. The poster is essentially a timeline, starting with slavery, and ending with modern day America. At the beginning of the poster/timeline, there is a cross. The cross is painted mostly white, and partly black. The color of the cross is meant to represent how during slavery, everything was divided between black and white, and the blacks generally got the short end of the stick. On the white side of the cross (standing on the ground next to it) is a white person holding a Bible. This shows how many whites justified slavery by taking Christianity out of context. On the black side of the cross is a black person hanging. This shows how the Christianity that was studied in that time period was a) not true and b) usually resulted in interpretations of the bible that didn't go well for the slaves. The person that is hanging is painted all black to show that the slaves didn't have an identity other than being black. All the white people saw was the color of their skin, and they never even tried to look past that.
Moving on down the poster, there is a small city/town. This part of the poster represents segregation. On one side, the grass is all dead, there are three poorly built houses, and there is a black female standing in front of one of the houses. This is the “black side.” The dead grass represents how poor the blacks often were during segregation because of their inferior education and because of how hard it was to get adequate employment. The houses are poorly built to show that blacks didn't have a lot of nice things. The houses also have no windows. This is to show how trapped the blacks must’ve felt during segregation. They had no control over their own lives. The houses are all black to show how everything during the time of segregation was very clearly labeled. There were things that were for whites only, and things that were set aside for blacks (usually because they were run down). The black female is to show how being African American wasn't the only problem. Females weren't fully accepted either. She isn’t, however, painted completely black. At this point in time, African Americans did have an identity, and the whites weren't totally blind to that fact, they just didn't really care.
The other side of the city on the poster is really nice. The grass is alive and green and there are even beautiful flowers growing all over. The houses are all white and are decorated with shrubbery. They houses have windows and real doors and the houses are (for the most part) larger. The grass, flowers, and shrubbery are representative of how it was easier for whites to make a living, due to good education and job opportunities. The white houses with windows are to represent how the whites were the only ones who really got to enjoy the freedoms that come with being American. They weren't trapped in bad circumstances, and if they were poor, they had the opportunity to make better for themselves. The big houses are to represent how the whites were generally richer than the blacks. The small houses show how even for the white families who were poor, they were still looked at as superior to blacks.
In the middle of the poster, between the two cities is a railroad. This is to show how innovation and growth made a difference in the acceptance of African Americans. It is also used to show how the poster is a timeline. The railroad leads all the way to the end of the poster, where it turns into a subway track. This end of the poster is a New York scene, but really just represents modern day America. On this end of the poster is a white person standing on what used to be the black side, and a black person standing on what used to be the white side. This shows how today (aside from people self-segregating) there is no segregation or slavery. African Americans are fully supported by the law and mostly supported by the American population. The black person on this end of the poster is also holding a Bible. This is to show how Christianity played a role in the acceptance of African Americans as well. At the beginning of the poster, Christianity was being taken out of context to justify slavery, but today that no longer happens. Christians see the bible for what it is, not for what they want it to be. The white female on this end of the poster is also supposed to represent how African Americans were not the only people who were accepted. Females of all races have also been accepted by both society and the law.
Overall, this poster is supposed to show progress, through acceptance, in many ways. It represents the struggles felt by people who weren't accepted, and it also shows how far we have come as a society. From hanging people, to accepting them and looking at them as equals, there has definitely been progress in America.