by McKenna Blackshire
i’ve spent 17 years of my life screaming as i tried to express this anger and dissatisfaction only to be dismissed or criticized or spoken over. i’m used to feeling unheard. my relationship to art has always been complex but fundamental to who i am. it was through making art and seeing art that i’ve been able to understand who i am and who i want. unfortunately, even in 2020 the art community is dominated by white voices. i’ve found it kind of ironic, because i’ve seen a lot of different artist communities (whether it be zines or collectives or anything else) post vigorously about race-based activism, but the communities themselves are primarily white. and, i think its especially important to acknowledge race’s role in the art community as it is anywhere else. art is an expression of the human condition. it is not only meant to be a reflection of the structure of our world, it is also meant to challenge the conventions of it. it’s meant to force us to see the best and worst of ourselves and our communities. i love art. i love being an artist. and with that comes a sense of guilt and a sense of inferiority. it is overwhelming to constantly appear unfathomable. will the world ever see my art the way it sees the art of my white counterparts? will the world ever see me?
mckenna is a high school senior in los angeles, california. she is passionate about film and social justice. in her free time she likes to be with her friends, listen to spotify playlists, and eat middle eastern food.
check out @officialwelooklikethis which features docuseries about the experiences of minority high school students and @universe42zine ,
a one-issue zine about adolescence in 2020s