THE CAUSE: Celebrating Black History Month by supporting Learning Through Art. Inc. who promote arts education, literacy, and community engagement to enhance multicultural awareness and understanding.
THE CHALLENGE: For every 22 active minutes tracked between 2/1/24 to 2/29/24, we will donate .39 cents to Learning Through Art, Inc. This challenge ends at 11:59 PM EST on 2/29/24. Submissions will be accepted until 3/1/2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
THE WHY: In the landscape of art, literature, and entertainment, the numbers reveal a stark disparity. While non-white groups make up 39% of the U.S. population, their representation in contemporary art, fashion, and film is considerably lower (~22%), with Black American artists facing significant underrepresentation.
In the realm of museums, only a minimal percentage of acquisitions and exhibitions feature work by Black American artists, particularly Black women. Despite the significant growth in the money spent on art by Black American female artists, their presence in auction sales remains dishearteningly low.
The literary world sees a similar gap, with the number of Black authors on the rise, yet their representation in the workforce and among U.S. authors falls behind. However, there is a glimmer of progress in children's and YA books, with a notable increase in books by Black authors.
Moving to the film industry, the numbers highlight a clear need for change. Black directors and speaking characters, especially Black females, are underrepresented. The music industry has made strides in representation, but disparities persist among top executives, particularly in the live music and concert promotion sector.
These statistics call for collective action to challenge systemic barriers and ensure a more inclusive and equitable future across all creative industries. It's time to amplify diverse voices, promote equal opportunities, and foster a cultural landscape that reflects the rich diversity of our society. Let's work together to break down these barriers and create a world where everyone's story is heard and celebrated.
During Black History Month, let's celebrate and amplify the voices of influential Black artists, honoring their impactful contributions to our cultural tapestry. #BlackHistoryMonth #CelebrateBlackArtists
February 2024 Challenge Sources
"Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman." New-York Historical Society. May 3, 2019 - July 28, 2019. https://www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/augusta-savage-renaissance-woman.
"Black Authors that Impacted the Culture of the USA." EssayService, 2021. https://essayservice.com/black-authors.
National Gallery of Art. "Joshua Johnson." 2024. https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1425.html#works.
Casparie, S. (2021, July 17). Understanding Njideka Akunyili Crosby in 10 Works of Art. The Collector. https://www.thecollector.com/njideka-akunyili-crosby-10-works-of-art/
Curcic, D. (2023, May 12). Black Authors Statistics. WordsRated. https://wordsrated.com/black-authors-statistics/#:~:text=As%20of%202022%2C%20around%2013.49,books%20had%20Black%20authors%20credited.
Godfrey, G. (2020, August 10). Buck the System: 8 Black Leaders Reshaping the Music Industry's Future. Complex Pigeons & Planes. https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/a/gpgodfrey/black-music-industry-leaders
Halperin, J., & Burns, C. (2022, December 13). Exactly How Underrepresented Are Women and Black American Artists in the Art World? Read the Full Data Rundown Here. Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/full-data-rundown-burns-halperin-report-2227460
National Gallery of Art. (n.d.). Joshua Johnson. Retrieved 1/15/2024, from https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1425.html#biography
Smith, S. L., Lee, C., Choueiti, M., Pieper, K., Moore, Z., Dinh, D., Tofan, A., Valdry, J., Brown, K., Stewart, S., Thors, M., Dechabert, M., & Davis, B. (2021, June). Inclusion in the Music Business: Gender & Race/Ethnicity Across Executives, Artists & Talent Teams. Annenberg Inclusion Initiative USC. https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-inclusion-music-industry-2021-06-14.pdf
Topaz, C.M., Higdon, J., Epps-Darling, A. et al. Race- and gender-based under-representation of creative contributors: art, fashion, film, and music. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 9, 221 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01239-9