This piece is based on the picture below, that breaks stereotypes about Asian, Hispanic, Black, Muslim, and Indigenous people.
However; this does not include nearly all of the different ethnic groups and crises they face now. Armenian, Jewish, Yemeni, Sudanese, Filipino, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and many more people all face their own problems and racism that doesn’t get nearly as much media coverage.
I decided to paint and draw various Asian, Hispanic, Black, Muslim, and Indigenous people. As we are all minorities and get minimal media representation, I decided to depict some of my favorite artists, actors, and role models of these ethnicities. Most of my drawings are in pen (Bad Bunny, Li Saumet, Lizzo, Jackson Wang, Muhammad Ali, Malala, and Irene Bedard).
But, two figures are in paint- Lil Nas X and Lalisa Manoban (more commonly known as Lisa from the Kpop group Blackpink).
I decided to paint these two people to highlight the anti-black sentiment in the Asian community and the anti-Asian sentiment in the Black community. At least in my household, many of my relatives are very anti POC — that is, except for them. My family wants everyone supporting them during the coronavirus pandemic, but they won’t support Black people in the BLM movement.
Minorities shouldn’t be pitted against each other. There are many Asian restaurants and salons that don’t allow Black people to come in. There are certain Black people who beat up Asians, blaming them for COVID-19. Either way, these actions are racist and unacceptable. Many people use these incidents as an excuse to stop supporting each other, but we cannot stop supporting each other because of the actions of one person who does not represent the entire Asian community or the entire Black community.
Finally, in front of the art are the words “Solidarity, not just sympathy”. When people get senselessly murdered, the most common thing for someone to say is, “Sending thoughts and prayers your way.” Sympathy is very much appreciated, but standing in solidarity as a group will help much more. Even if it’s sharing a post online, showing that you do more than just hope that things will be okay can be more empowering than you think.