Blue Black Boy

Image Credit: http://www.flomenhaftgallery.com/collections/collections_images/blue_black_boy_choco_2a185f.jpg


Carrie Mae Weems' photographic triptych entitled "Blue Black Boy" (2008) is featured in MOMA's exhibit entitled "Reinventing Color." This work in particular is featured in the 1988 Blues portion of this exhibition. What this work says to me is that we place altogether too much emphasis on colors (races) and do not see things for what they really are: men, women, people. With this in mind, the work progresses from left to right with the words printed under each identical picture of the same boy, "Blue. Black. Boy." The final of these words finally surmises what this human should really be seen as, a fellow human no different due to any racial constrictions or prejudices. He should not be seen as blue because of the blue tones of the work. He should not be seen as black as it is the color of his skin. He is a boy. A human boy. In this right, he is as equal as any of the rest of us, and the labels of color should not be placed upon them even at first glance.

http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/colorchart/flashsite/index.html