On View
Visual Arts Gallery
Exhibition
Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.
Photograph by
Bright, Sheila Pree, American, born 1967
Subject of
Monáe, Janelle, American, born 1985
Christian, Felecia, American
Christian, Alexia, American, died 2015
Wonder, Nate "Rocket", American
Unidentified Woman or Women
Wondaland Records, American, founded 2015
Date
2015
Medium
digital
Dimensions
H x W: 6000 pixels × 6000 pixels
File size (Total): 103.09 MB
Caption
Sheila Pree Bright’s images often feature women, as in this image of singer Janelle Monae standing behind a “#SAY HER NAME” sign. Bright celebrates the central role that women historically have played in organizing protests and leading demands for social change. At a Breonna Taylor protest, Bright recalls, “I felt the trauma within the women's voices when they spoke; it was very emotional, fierce, and sobering.”
Description
A digital, black-and-white image of Janelle Monáe performing "Hell You Talmbout" during a Black Lives Matter "Say Her Name" protest in Atlanta, Georgia. Monáe is standing left of center. She is wearing a white, long sleeve, polka dot bouse and white cap with a black band and visor. Her head is tilted towards her proper right shoulder, her chin is tilted slightly upwards, her eyes are closed, and she appears to be singing. Her proper right arm rests at her side and her proper left arm is draped over the shoulder of Felecia Christian, the mother of Alexia Christian, standing in the right foreground. Christian, on the right is holding a white protest sign in front of her with black, handwritten marker text that reads [#What happened to / ALEXIA CHRISTIAN / #SAY HER NAME / #STOPKILLINGUS!]. She wears a dark blouse, two chain necklaces, and dark sunglasses. She is facing the viewer with her chin raised, and also appears to be singing. Standing behind Monáe and Christian is Nate 'Rocket' Wonder of the Wondaland Arts Society, singing and clapping his hands. He is wearing a white T-shirt, metal rimmed sunglasses, and a round, broad brimmed hat. Standing in the background behind Monáe, Christian, and Wonder is a gathering of other protesters; some holding protest signs up in the air.
Place captured
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
Portfolio/Series
#1960Now
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Movement
Black Lives Matter
Type
digital images
digital media - born digital
Topic
Activism
Actors
American South
Civil rights
Composers (Musicians)
Gospel (Music)
Justice
Photography
Police brutality
Popular music
Race relations
Rappers (Musicians)
Singers (Musicians)
U.S. History, 2001-
Urban life
Violence
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Sheila Pree Bright
Object number
2021.56.1
Restrictions & Rights
© Sheila Pree Bright
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd554d7c112-e745-4ad5-a391-32394e6e049b

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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