Hello beloved.

Are you ready for an art show of sorts?

In my last newsletter I said that I would share more about the painting below. 

It’s called Murder in Mississippi… and it’s by one of America’s best-known painters, Norman Rockwell.

Scroll down and join me for the story behind it.

Norman Rockwell painted covers for The Saturday Evening Post for nearly 50 years. 

His paintings were known for their wholesome, light-hearted depictions of American life.

Freedom from Want

No Swimming

Runaway

But something bothered him.

Unless they were depicted as servants, The Saturday Evening Post would not accept paintings that included Black people.

They were afraid of alienating their readers... who were white, conservative, and traditional.

But Rockwell knew there were parts of America that did not fit the idyllic narrative many people wanted to see.

So, after leaving The Saturday Evening Post, his work changed dramatically.

He began to paint images that revealed an artist with a deep social consciousness.

The Problem We All Live With

New Kids in the Neighborhood

Black Sheep in a Red Dress

Murder in Mississippi, which captured the brutal reality of racial violence in America, was one of his most powerful paintings.

It vividly depicted the murder of three young civil rights workers in the summer of 1964.

I shared the story of this terrible crime in the last newsletter. So, if you missed it, look back through your inbox.

When Murder in Mississippi was released... it shocked America to its core.

No one, especially a famous white artist, had ever dared to paint something like this before.

To this day, it remains significant for its impact and legacy.

Rockwell worked hard on the painting.  

He used human models… and even himself... to depict the scene he wanted to paint.

This is Rockwell posing as a model… and yes that's real human blood on his shirt. 

He wanted to actually feel the terror these selfless, young men experienced.

It was the only way he could paint an image that would show the country the horrors of racial violence.

Rockwell felt an obligation to speak up through his paintings because of these words.

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

~ Dr. Martin Luther King

If enough white people felt the same obligation to speak out...

We'd be living in a different world today.

Are You a Sharer?

It ain't no fun if the homies can't have none.

~ Snoop Dog

If you are and would like to share "An Artist with a Conscience" with a friend, you can by simply forwarding this email.  

Once again, thank you for taking this journey with your fellow readers. 

It's just one lesson from the greatest story never told. 

If you have a story of your own that you'd like to share, send it to me at the email address below. I'd love to hear it.

Or, if you have comments, expressions, or feedback... feel free to hit me up at b.johnson@ethnicexpressions.com

Until next time,

Brian