Weeping with Dignity

an essay on art, community, and codeswitching

I love going to art museums. I don’t get much opportunity to do so because my kids are young and I’m absolutely terrified that my two boys will break something. I’m trying to stop that worry, because I believe children should see art and let it inspire them. Because art is a lifeline. It is a pillar of amazement that raises our vision and deepens our capacity to connect with our consciousness.

“The artist’s role is to raise the consciousness of the people. To make them understand life, the world and themselves more completely. That’s how I see it. Otherwise, I don’t know why you do it.”

[ Amiri Baraka ]