The Mis-Education of the Post Black Negro

An exhibition of artwork by Milton 510 Bowens

Exibition Dates: January 27, 2014 - February 27, 2014

Artist Statement

My Exhibition “The Mis-Education of the Post Black Negro” is a reference to The Mis-Education of the Negro, a book originally published in 1933 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
The thesis of Dr. Woodson's book is that African Americans of his day were being culturally indoctrinated, rather than taught, in American schools. This conditioning, he claims, causes African Americans to become dependent and to seek out inferior places in the greater society of which they are a part. He challenges his readers to become Free Thinkers and to "do for themselves", regardless of what they were taught:

Here is a quote from the book:

"When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary."

This Exhibition “The Mis-Education of the Post Black Negro” a collection of original fine art paintings, tackles the notion that Race is no longer an issue for Black Folks and Racism is a thing of the past.

Eye beg to differ.

The works incorporate historically stereotypical images, Civil Rights and Black Power Icons and contemporary hip hop songs. As well as pop culture references, placed onto color rich and textured canvases and paper, which are embellished with hand written texted passages, magazine clippings and vintage American Slave Era documents, visually engaging the viewer and hopefully spurring a contemplative interest in the topic to create a curiosity to examine the artistic informational link between the past and present.

This collection strives to capture the interplay between time, place and truth, between joy and pain, and between different forms of conditioning, understanding and behavior. The exhibition examines the importance of understanding self-esteem, community, entitlement, greed being uninformed and complacency for African Americans, while examining the ever growing influence of today’s hip hop and pop culture genres regurgitations of stereotypes. Each subject is truncated; the abbreviated depiction focuses on intangible snapshots and pivotal moments. The works seem simple, but they convey a mature gesture: reaching, stretching and pulling the viewer into a much deeper experience.

So EYE encourage you as you view this collection of paintings, to not just see the story, but to Listen, Learn, Think and Reflect on these important visual questions that are attempting to, reignite and inspire a new generation of artistic Free Thinking, Pride, Unity and Grassroots Educational Growth using the age old method of educating thru storytelling, hopefully advancing the viewer’s educational curiosity and to assist in the efforts of Justice, CHANGE and Peace.

—M510