Ishmael Adams
Professor Doris
12/3/2025
Performance Intervention Project
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| Black Panthers vs America : Ishmael Adams 2025 |
1. My Project
My project is a sort of semi sequel from the previous where I discuss The Black Panther Party. Unlike my previous presentation, this project's theme will be about protecting the past. In the wake of the current administrations attempt to delete history that shines a light on America's history of inequality I wanted to portray an oil painting presentation depicting that symbolically. More specifically I wanted to get people to paint over America's quote on quote intolerance as a way to kind of protect the memory of the people that fought against injustice, kind of the opposite of what the current administration is doing. I got people from around the school to come to a table where I set up some paint and paint over the eagles representing America in my painting.
2. Why This Topic
More than most other Civil Rights groups, The Black Panther Party has always had a special place in my heart, and with the current administration making a terrible habit of trying to erase black history and black accomplishments in America, I felt that I needed to shine a light on at least one of the many black groups that tried to make this country a better place. If people can just erase not just my history as a person of color, but America history through the accomplishments and struggles made along the way then we are not only doomed to repeat the same mistakes again, but also lose out on decades of knowledge and innovation that we could use to better ourselves, our country and the world.
3. My Message
Like I explained in the previous two segments of the blog I want people to protect the history of the past from eraser and the oil painting with the black panther is symbolic of that. By painting over the eagles, which represent America's eraser we are in effect protecting the past symbolized by the black panther defending itself from the eagles.
4. Reaching the Audience
I reached my audience through the leader of the Men of Color organization who was gracious enough to set up a spot for me in the school. There I interacted with students all over the school first asking them to paint onto some of my artwork as a sort of small esque ice breaker. I then started a bit about the current administration and how we need to protect our history to remember the people of the past and their accomplishments and struggles. A few of them I had already known before so some of them weren't uncomfortable with discussing the topic with me, others were a bit dismissive saying thing couldn't get that bad.
5. This Project and My future career endeavors
As an illustrator this project has allowed me to tell a story with my artwork and to use the environment and people around me to transform my artwork visually into something different and even a little unpredictable. This project has also shown that I can use different mediums and break down different discussion with people on the fly.
6. Artist Influences
Diego Rivera
Faith Ringgold
Kerry James Marshall
All are artists with very politically charged pieces of media, Diego Rivera's composition, Faith Ringgold's more stylized subjects and Kerry James Marshall's vibrant background colors.
7. Research
National Museum of African American History and Culture
PBS Diego Rivera Biography
Art and Activism with Faith Ringgold
NBC: Critics question why exhibits at the African American History Museum are rotating out
Presentation:
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