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Reason behind AmeriKKKan Terrorist painting

Jafleu Fleurant

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May 10th, 2015 - 10:33 PM

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Reason behind AmeriKKKan Terrorist painting

Before we get started, I created a new FAA to kind of start over. I'm hoping to be more active using this.
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Since last summer with the death of Eric Garner, we've been bombarded with something that to many of us (Black people) is a everyday reality. Police have been abusing their power and people. It's been feeling as though we were being hunted. Know I'm not out to demonize all police, I'm just going off my personal experience and feelings as an 30 yr old black man. And as the great Nina Simone once stated "How can an artist not reflect the times?" ... I'm paraphrasing.

I've always been an artist who created worked based on what I was seeing and feeling. It be foolish of me not to speak on what's going on. So with "AmeriKKKan Terrorist" I attempted to do just that. The name was originally "FuckYOUrBreath" because of the shooting of Walter Scott where as he died he stated he couldn't breathe and an officer responded "Fuck your breath". It draws irony to when you could hear Eric Garner say those words that became a hashtag... a slogan... "I Can't Breathe". I only changed the name because as I was having a conversation about these topics with my friend and Miami-based MC LMS, Lupe Fiasco's "American Terrorist" began to play and it felt like it was a sign.

Today, it feels like we can't breathe and that the system doesn't give a fuck. It brings your past that you've been already punished for to trial (hence the cut off foot like Kunta) even though they've already beaten and shoot you up. The system, Lady Justice just seems to give a middle finger to us and it hangs us. This is how I was feeling... this is how I AM feeling. My friend Anesson Joesph was shot to death by the police after some already questionable circumstances. I've had my run-ins good and bad.

When I speak to people about this piece, a common theme is in the thoughts "You're telling out stories, you're speaking for us." So I'll never feel a type of way about anyone not vibing with this painting. Because I didn't make it for you, maybe you can't relate. I'm just reflecting my world.

You can check out an exert from Pleasant City: Thee Choreopoem where Zoetry spits is peace "For My Kings" while overlooking the painting here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuc-OcVTezs&feature=youtu.be

1) Be safe
2) Keep what you kill
3) Stay Treal!!!!

Oh and Black Lives DO Matter... least to me.

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