“As a young farm kid catapulted into the violent streets of South Central Los Angeles in my teen years; as a mental health therapist working with people on the fringe of society; and as long as I can remember I have made pictures the content of which has been testament to the oppression and marginalization of the African American. I am numbed by the election of Barak Hussein Obama to the highest office on the planet.” For those who have lived even a couple decades the past will not be erased, but for the babies, the children, it is they that will know a different world. They will know a world where “hope and optimism” will be rewarded, where “opportunity” is not just a slogan, where old stereotypes are shattered, where “equal justice for all ” is not an empty concept, and where the the president of their country looks like them. The shackles of racism and poverty have been unlocked.
Smith is a story teller and a teacher – his narratives jump off the canvas with bold colors, shapes and visual balance. He paints from somewhere inside himself, combining life and art. His work makes you stop to study the shocking beauty, the veiled messages, and the experiences to be shared. Creating an exhibition of celebration is how he is processing post November 4, 2008.
“Barak Hussein Obama is president of the United State of America. I feel vindicated and proud that for the first time in the history of the United States, a person of color is our elected leader and a dream I never thought would be realized in my life has come true. For me, the deeper meaning has not yet crystalized. But for now, immersed in my painting, I celebrate. Change has happened and a never before felt sense of pride and confidence surges through Black communities all over the world. Yes we can.”
