Let's talk about food as a source of oppression... and the connection of dairy and I.C.E rooted in white supremacy
The piece above is called "I.C.E. Cream" and was largely inspired by the connection of white supremacy to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and also dairy. I was thinking a lot about stories I’ve heard from immigrant families and friends who are scared to leave their houses right now, and how white people have this privilege to go about their daily lives and do regular activities like go to the park and eat ice cream. When making this piece, I had a very specific audience in mind to whom I wanted to speak to through the work, and that is the people from my hometown and especially why this playground is partially based off of one from my hometown. I come from a small town in Arkansas called Siloam Springs. This town was historically a sundown town and as a result, Black people make up less than 2% of the current population according to the US Census. What’s also interesting is that white people actually make up less than half of the population while those who make up the majority are Hispanic, Latino, or mixed race. Yet, the town still holds on to several discriminatory institutions and ideologies from these white supremacist roots that prioritizes white owned businesses and neighborhoods. Several of my encounters with white individuals who self identify as not racist or consider themselves to be advocates for our Hispanic and Latino populations, commit acts of microaggressions daily without realizing how problematic they are. There’s a deep lack of education and awareness even amongst allies - and this includes myself as I am always learning.
Note that since the creation of this painting and zine, The asylum claim of Liam's family has been ruled invalid in court and was ordered for their immediate deportation, their attorneys have filed an appeal.
Subtleness of Horror
I wanted the families to look like normal happy people that you meet day to day. Inviting the viewer to look closer and find how things are terribly wrong. When people are not directly a part of I.C.E., silence and ignorance becomes complicity and acceptance of the system. It suggests that you are okay with the system as it is. Children aren't born believing in systems like white supremacy, but they are raised into it. Now that a white hood is too obvious, white supremacists use certain clothing and symbols to signify their beliefs to other white supremacists. Two of these clothing symbols include: wearing red shoelaces, black and yellow clothing, especially polo shirts.