"For the People"

Gouache on canvas panel 

framed 11" x 14"

SKING 2024 

"For the People" captures the fierce elegance and revolutionary spirit of a Black woman marching with unwavering resolve through the city streets—arm raised in a powerful Black Power salute. Flanked by two well-dressed men in suits, and followed by others, she leads with a quiet fire that echoes the collective resistance and resilience of a generation.

Set against the backdrop of urban America, this painting pays homage to the Civil Rights and Black Power movements of the 1960s and 70s—a time when Black identity, pride, and political consciousness were rising to the forefront of national conversation. Her raised fist—symbolic of unity, defiance, and self-determination—embodies the audacity to claim space, voice, and visibility in a world designed to suppress both.

The men walking with her are not in front, nor behind, but beside her—affirming the critical, though often overshadowed, leadership of Black women in social justice movements. Her bold blue skirt and pressed white blouse reflect both femininity and strength, echoing the aesthetic and energy of women like Angela Davis, Kathleen Cleaver, and Coretta Scott King—who were as much symbols of grace as they were of radical courage.

The brushwork is assertive, with vibrant colors and strong lines that mirror the marching rhythm and urgency of the times. The city around them is faceless and distant, as if fading into insignificance in the face of the purpose driving these figures forward.