That’s because African Americans are, by definition, an ethnic group and as a cultural group, do not practice being. But that is not the point.
Draws On Styles And Influences Of The African Diaspora
African American art is art that draws on many of the many styles and influences of the African Diaspora. It’s art that uses African elements from various cultures. It’s art that utilizes artistic traditions, such as African mythology, that have been handed down for centuries among the black community. It’s art that brings to life a world that has practically disappeared.
In today’s modern world, when we think of African Americans, many of them are forgotten. We hear about them but seldom see them. Our African American friends are left out of many important conversations about race and ethnicity. Our African American friends need to be remembered and valued. It’s our responsibility to do so.
The history of African American art on canvas is a very important part of our history and heritage. Unfortunately, many of our African American friends do not know where to find quality images of their beloved African American culture. Today, there are many websites that can help guide our black friends in finding these images. A quick search on the Internet will bring many websites to the forefront. These websites will also have a large variety of black art for sale.
We Live In A Society That Celebrates Superficial Beauty
We’ve become conditioned to believe that the best looks come from the runway and that African American faces are somehow flawed. African American art should not be rejected just because someone is too self-conscious of their “look”. African American art should not be considered inferior simply because it does not fit into our mold of what beauty should look like.
Many younger generations want to keep African American art “in the family” but that is only partially true. As we move away from the stereotypical, white-washed images of yesterday, the more we’ll see diversity of skin tone and skin colors. In fact, most of today’s African American faces are either completely white or very light. There is no reason why African American art should be limited to the stereotype of a black man with a bang. African American artwork should embrace every race and ethnicity because they have a lot to teach us and they are some of the few remaining cultures on this earth.
Another Misconception
Another misconception that many of our younger generation are learning is that art is only about being loud and profligate. African American art should not be a reflection of how much money you make or where you go to school. Art is art and it should be enjoyed by all. Just because someone’s culture isn’t your own doesn’t mean that they can’t appreciate it. It just means that they might not be able to afford it or find it relevant to them.
Conclusion
If you are in the market for some black art on canvas then I recommend that you don’t go looking at the ones on display in museums. Instead, start your search online and find some great examples right off the web. The art that you find online will truly be unique and no one else will have anything like it. Now that you know a little bit more about this wonderful medium you will be able to tell me more.
