Listen Here

My initial attraction to the piece Crucifixion Coffee Table by Herbert Singleton was that it resembled the Last Supper painting at first glance. Which gave me a euphoric feeling of the soulful foods I’d imagined would be shared at the table and drew me to my offering of a Candied Butternut Squash Recipe.After I examined the piece closer and read the artist’s description, I was drawn even more to its complexity of Christian beliefs’ influence on the marginalization of the African American community and the confusion surrounding the crucifixion of the Black man. For me, It put a visual perspective on the history of religion and its initial role in the systemic violence on the Black body. The theme of confusion opens a dialogue for viewers to question the modern day laws of those allowed to play Gods and those whose truth remains a threat.

The connection I made with this piece and my own story is that I grew up in a Christian household always questioning our true connection to God. Despite the stories shared in which the White man played the savior, I always wanted to explore the possibilities of the true Gods being someone like me, or more similar to the descriptions of Him in the Bible. As I grew older and studied spirituality it changed my perspective on religion as a whole, in which my research had led me to a history of misuse in the indoctrination of Christianity amongst the African people. As I embarked on the traditional beliefs of my lineage it became clear how and why that information had been withheld in order to reprogram and control the majority. What comes up for me with the themes in which this exhibit shares is a spiritual journey and exploration of the history behind the Black body before White influence and the evolution of art through the creation of Culture without knowledge of self.

Recipe for Candied Butternut Squash (vegan)
Download PDF