Project Descriptions
Dana A., Ishmael E., Savanna J., Sakai M., Litnell N., Leila R., Ariana S., Carmen W., Kyle Z. |
A Musician Discovers Ragtime Music for the First Time (short film)
Our short film dramatizes the scene when the narrator discovers Ragtime music. We felt this was one of the most important moments in the narrator’s life. Using film, overdubs and greenscreen technology, we created a fun video that illustrates the scenes that take place on pp. 52-55 of the novel. We chose this scene because our class spent a great deal of time researching the history and significance of this form of music in the African American community and how it influenced many contemporary musicians.
We also discussed how it impacted the narrator, who, after hearing this music, decided that he would not run away from his culture, but instead embrace it by learning more about it. Unfortunately, his life took another turn and he ended up denying his culture and choosing to live his life as a white man. But we believe that the author, James Weldon Johnson, chose to include Ragtime music in this story because he himself was a musician and he wanted to show yet another overlooked legacy from his culture that benefits us all to this day. We hope you enjoy the film!
Zofia M., Javon L., Sage B. | Spray Paint Acrylic on Plywood
In our acrylic on plywood image, we will focus on W. E. B. Du Bois’s theory of Double Consciousness, a primary theme in The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, written by James Weldon Johnson. Johnson addresses the tension between the way we see ourselves and our potential, versus the way in which society sees us and the restrictions imposed on us. This is demonstrated when as a young boy, the central character and narrator, realizes for the first time that society labels him as Black. Johnson goes on to demonstrate how racism itself results in this struggle of Double Consciousness. DuBois’s theory raises our awareness of the damage people experience when society’s definition conflicts with our own self-image and agency.
Through symbolism, our project adroitly displays the duality of Double Consciousness by bringing to light both the internal and external struggles with racism. We aim to capture this conflicting message through a mirror, in which a man views his own conflicting reflection. We see instead, mockery from society and cracks in the mirror representing societal fractures racism imposes on us all. We use a candle as a symbol to represent the bystanders, who observe racial injustice but fail to act. We hope that art piece inspires its views to rise up and act against racism.
Lochlan S. | Colored Pencil and Charcoal Drawing
For my project I will create a colored drawing using pencils and charcoal. I want to capture what I see in the scene where the narrator was told he was black by his mom. He had just rushed home to his room quoting the rhyme the kids said on the page before. I plan on having the drawing be more of a classical drawing, instead of my current drawing style, so it won’t look too much like an anime character. It will be a drawing of the looking glass on the wall, with the narrator’s reflection in it of him being white, while he lays his black face on his mother’s lap. In a doorway to the left, is the classroom with the white students standing up, and the black ones sitting down.
Willow M. | Digital Photoshoot
W.E.B. Du Bois’s theory of Double Consciousness focuses on the ongoing tension that every Black person in America lives two lives, one as a Black person and the other as an American, has been very interesting to me since I read The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson. Using my background in photography, I wanted to create something that would innovatively display this idea. My project is a digital photoshoot in which Black people wear masks to highlight the concept of Double Consciousness. “Masking Consciousness” refers to how Black people in America live two lives simultaneously. We all want to live life as our true selves. Let’s recognize the issue, so we can combat it together.
Lilyrose K. | Poem
The mother plays a pivotal role in The Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson. I will craft a poem about Mothers and how their voices are barely heard in today’s society. The strength they carry should be shared and seen by the world. My poem will connect the lives of mothers in today’s society to the mother in The Autobiography Of An Ex-colored Man. I hope that readers will appreciate the resiliency and commitment mothers possess and that they are a gift to our society.
Ben P., Jeremiah R., and Daniel G. | Interview
For our project, we will interview Sharon Hughes, professional photographer and documentarian, about her Mother’s in Black & White photography exhibit. Our aim is to show how her work correlates with W.E.B. du Bois’s theory of Double Consciousness. Autobiography of an Ex Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson brings to light the existing tension between our own aspirations and self actualization and the limits society imposes on us and our identity. We will ask Ms. Hughes about what motivated her to give voice to mothers who have raised Black sons in our society. In addition, we seek to uncover her inspiration for selecting East Garfield Park, Chicago as a location for her exhibit, which took place at 345 Art Gallery. Lastly, we look forward to learning what insight she gained while doing so and will provide a link to her Instagram page in hopes to draw greater interest from students around our state. Our interview/audio project will be through Google slides.
Andy M. and Logan K. | Wooden Representation
The piece shows the early moment’s in this man’s life story. The flower seeds represent his Georgia home where he had garden beds, where flowers grew. They had bottles in the garden bed and when he tried to unbury one he got spanked, which was ingrained into his mind. The piano keys and how there are seven black ones to show his age when he got invested in playing the piano. The reason they are outlined is to show how he was attracted to the black keys the most. The $10 coin was something that he has kept for almost all of his life and one of the last things his father gave him when he was little before he left. We showed his mixed heritage with the half black and half white color scheme to represent his mother and father in the piece. The reason it is shaped like an N and H is because of the name of our school, New Horizons. Our views and knowledge are ever expanding like the New Horizons of a new morning.