COVE

The artwork that I chose to interpret is the drawing of Bronzeville neighborhood, which is about Chicago’s historically black neighborhood. The painting is called “Black Belt” by Archibald Motley in 1934 and the painting shows the diversity and motion that comes with the black urban life. When looking at the piece of artwork the colors and the life in the picture can show the lively hood of the neighborhood and the colors that he chooses to use in this drawing shows the happiness and freedom in the neighborhood. When connecting it to a literary text I chose the poem “Primer for Blacks” by Gwendolyn Brooks, the poem is discussing African Americans and how the color of their skin is a commitment to them and she talks about the African Americans who do not want to be black, she discusses that they still are African American and they are powerful and their skin color brings individuals together as one and as one community. The poem reminded me a lot of the painting because it shows the impact of being together and being one strong unit as African Americans and it shows the happy side to these urban neighborhoods, instead of the stereotypical prime crime areas they are portrayed to be. I think it is a very interesting poem and a very interesting painting that work really well together. Some lines from the poem that stuck out to me include, “The word Black has geographic power, pulls everyone in: Blacks here-Blacks there-Blacks wherever they may be.” (Brooks). This line stuck out to me as well, “Blackness stretches over the land. Blackness-the Black of it…Blackness marches on.” (Brooks). These two lines really stuck out to me and they really showed me which way to take my look for a picture. I think these two lines are very meaningful and stick out quite a lot and are very powerful lines. 

work cited 

“5 Harlem Renaissance Artists Whose Work Helped Reclaim Black Identity.” HISTORY, 12 Feb. 2024, www.history.com/news/harlem-renaissance-african-american-identity.

Brooks, Gwendolyn. “Primer for Blacks by Gwendolyn Brooks | Poetry Foundation.” Poetry Foundation, 2020, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51838/primer-for-blacks.

February 16, ccholis1, and 2018 0 Comments. “Black Belt.” Black Artists in the Museum, 16 Feb. 2018, black-artists-in-the-museum.com/2018/02/16/black-belt-1934/.