This painting represents a murky and often overlooked part of our American history— purchasing Black people like livestock. This was such a common practice that there are receipts that detail the purchases as if someone were buying merchandise or food — not people. Yes, indeed, the masters left a paper trail, and now it is time for their descendants and our government to own up and pay up because we — us descendants of enslaved people — have the receipts!
If you look close, you will see that the wallpaper is a receipt for purchased enslaved people by one Mr. Wilson. When I found this receipt I was angry and hurt because a truth flooded into me and that is that my last name Wilson is not my real last name but one given to my family by an owner of enslaved people. Yes, that is what masters used to do with their enslaved people— give them their surnames. Another way our Black history was taken from us. This woman in the painting represents all of us descendants of enslaved people who are not afraid to proclaim that we are "NOT FOR SALE".
Original Created:2021
Subjects: Political
Styles:ExpressionismFigurativeFine ArtPop Artblack art
Mediums:AcryliccollagePaper
Materials:WoodPaper