Racism Within Art

   Art reflects the culture which produced it. There are many works in the history of art which show blacks in a negative light, especially as slaves. This is why studying art can help us figure out where racism began.

Olympia by Manet, 1863

    In the above painting, a black servant is shown in the background behind a nude Olympia. Olympia was not a goddess like Venus who was usually portrayed nude, but rather a prostitute. Her servant is shown handing her a bouquet of flowers, presumably from one of her clients.

    In this anonymous painting, a black man is shown being hauled away by two Jewish policemen. In the larger view of the painting, there are many Jews and Africans seen milling around town. Jews were known to treat their slaves well, feeding them before they fed themselves, providing them with the same menu as themselves, speaking calmly to them, and allowing their children to be free. This is why many Africans in the painting are depicted wearing capes, the sign of a free man. 

    Paintings against racism are more common in our day of age. The most popular are shown below. 

The Problem We All Live With by Norman Rockwell, 1964

    This painting illustrates Ruby Bridges’ history-changing walk integrating the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans on November 14, 1960. She was the first black child to attend a white elementary school in the south and she represents a turning point in American culture.