Bless your heart:
a phrase common to the Southern United States. The phrase has multiple meanings and is used to express genuine sympathy but sometimes as an insult that conveys condescension, derision, or contempt. It may also be spoken as a precursor to an insult to mitigate its severity.
Growing up in North Carolina, I thought I grasped the concept of racism. Enduring derogatory names or facing judgment based on how I navigated the world. There is a fine line between prejudice and racism, and it wasn’t until I left North Carolina, and was stationed in the Gulf coast where I truly understood what that entailed.
It wasn't merely the older white woman clutching her purse as she passed by, but rather the person who overly emphasized niceness. It was being escorted out of rural bars after sunset because you have now overstayed your welcome. It was realizing the apprehension towards the brightness and intelligence of Black individuals and people of colour.
Trying to understand racism is like diving into a complex realm of subtleties—a spectrum far from just black-and-white. The ideology of racism didn't dissipate with the desegregation of education or the integration of social circles; it lingered.
Bless Your Heart is my way of unveiling the intricacies of racism. It's not solely about words; it's a visual representation of hatred. I want my audience to see the attempts of equalizing were just as hurtful as it was devaluing.
Throughout the pandemic of 2020, we witnessed the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The response from this movement wasn’t all positive, and other movements began to take shape, in attempts to steal the spotlight from the Black community. Artist began to grow their online businesses as an answer to the lockdown. Unfortunately, many white conservative groups utilized this as an opportunity to profit from the Black Lives Matter movement, instead of campaigning in favor of equality.
I've linked the flags predominantly flown in the Southern United States and illuminated how they are depicted by black people and people of colour. While they may seem innocent from a non-black perspective, each flag depicted here has separated from its original meaning and has ultimately traced Its lineage to hatred. The Black community shares a familial bond. Creating a sense of anonymity helped convey that we’re not an individual, we’re a collective. The trauma from this life binds us together, making even strangers feel like family.
