When Art Speaks
Explore the History
People, movements, ideas, and moments connected to the book.
When Art Speaks moves through more than a century of American cultural and political history. This companion explores the people, movements, and moments that shaped the story.
By Era
The History
Before radio, television, or the internet, artists found ways to make their voices heard — through performance, publication, and community.
Featured Story
Real Black
Kevin Ross, Jacob Latimore & Trevor Jackson
from Voices for Change
Released in 2020 in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Real Black is a contemporary affirmation of Black identity, joy, and resilience. It is also an example of artists organizing collectively in response to a cultural moment — choosing to create rather than simply react. The Voices for Change compilation brought together dozens of artists in a shared act of cultural advocacy.
"What does it mean to make art in the middle of a crisis? What does it mean to choose joy as a form of resistance?"