Linked ~Inobe

Project: “LINKED”

My project LINKED helps me find a personal connection to Cuba through researching the Atlantic Slave Trade (1789–1820). I learned Cuba was one of the main stops for the trade before slaves were shipped to America. It was coined “the great western slave mart of the world,” by Fredrick Douglass. One decision at the mart kept some of us in Cuba, and sent other sisters and brothers to America. 

My LINKED concept will be a visual art piece, or a contribution through The Rueda Project if possible displaying my connection to Cuba as an African-American woman. If it's a visual art piece it will exhibit traditions created by Afro-Cubans and African-Americans along the journey survived under slavery and oppression. Making a way out of no way. I also hope to capture the present day status on race relations. What has changed on the surface? Having tremendous advancements with technology etc., but no real change with racism; social and economic disadvantages for African decent people no matter where they reside.

Our trip to the Annenberg Museum introduced me to Rene Pena’s artwork. It moved me to tears, and inspired me to dig deeper into his artwork addressing racism in Cuba. It's beautiful and powerful activism. We can speak about racism on certain platforms here in America, but circumstances never changes.

Pena’s “White Things” and “Mysterious Body” art collection is breath taking. He and another artist by the name of Hank Willis Thomas, an African-American artist pieces are necessary. Their art collections speak loudly, and continues the dialogue to address racism, black bodies as modern day commodities or objects.