
Black lives matter is a movement that reaches across the entire nation. It is a movement against the social injustice within the judicial system. There are protests around the country in an effort to change and force the policemen to take responsibility for their actions. They have killed innocent people and altered the lives of thousands with little to no punishment for their actions. The injustice and racial suppression that millions are facing is exhibited in the painting, “A Tale of two hoodies” by Micheal D’Antuno. This painting strategically uses color, symbol, organization, unity, and realism to help create an image of current America and portray a message of social unrest within the black community especially pertaining to the injustices they face in the United States police system.  

The black community and the United states police system are both depicted in the painting, each possessing an element of innocence. The police officer is depicted as innocent through the color white and the boy’s innocence is shown by the symbol of a bag of sweeties in his hand. White is recognized as a color of innocence and surrender. By dressing both the police officer and the boy in white the artist is suggesting that each of them can be considered both innocent and guilty to the public. The police officer has a white Klu Klux Klan (KKK) hood covering his head but is still innocent because he is protecting the community and doing what he believes needs to be done. The white color of the hood hints toward the police officer’s overall innocence. The general community is able to see a police officer’s innocence as they are risking their life to protect them thus allowing them to look past the obvious wrongdoing of wearing the hood. Therefore, the meaning of racism behind the KKK hood itself represents both his and the police system’s wrongdoings, which include taking innocent black lives. These wrongdoings of the officer are also highlighted in the painting by blatantly targeting the boy and pointing a gun at him. The police officer is only wearing white on his head and shoulders while the boy is wearing all white which make him appear to be completely innocent. The boy’s innocence is exhibited by the bag of sweeties in his hand, as he attempts to offer them to the officer a gun is pointed in his face. Evidently, the boy is not presenting danger to the police officer and can only be considered guilty due to the color of his skin. History has shown that this alone is enough evidence for the public to consider the boy guilty and defend the actions of the police officer, and thus is why the Black Lives Matter movement has been pushing for a change. Due to historical precedence both the police officer and the boy know there will be no consequences for the police officer to face. Therefore, there is defeat in the boy’s face as he looks at the barrel of the gun and upward at the police officer. The boy knows there is nothing more he can do so he must surrender himself though he has done no wrong. The boy is wearing all white as a representation of his surrender to the police. Though it is clear he is not dangerous to the police officer, by keeping the gun pointed at the boy the police officer is able to exert his power over him.

The police officer has known power over the boy which is depicted when he is placed above the boy through the use of organization. The police officer is above the child in every sense, physically in the painting and within the system. Police officers are perceived to be above the law and are usually able to evade consequences for their actions. By placing the police officer closer to the top and physically putting him above the boy the artist is able to further emphasize his superiority and the power he retains. In addition to depicting this power organization is also used to draw your eyes to the confederate flag placed in the middle. This flag represents past America, a time of racism and slavery. By having this in the center it not only initiates these thoughts of racism and slavery, but also represents Americans lack of interest in change. This flag was flown by the rebels as they battled to keep slavery in America because they wanted things to stay the same. White Americans have no reason to want change, America currently works in their favor and they do not want that to be taken away. Not only is the confederate flag in the center of the painting but it appears to be visible due to the deterioration of the American flag that was once covering it completely. Since the confederate flag represents past America than the American flag represents current America and the only change occurring now is in a backwards movement. This movement is why African Americans are dissatisfied and disappointed with the current state of America. Thus it is why they are fighting to unify the country in a fight against the blatant racism and oppression they face on a daily basis through the black lives matter movement. 

The limited color choice of red, white, blue, and black create an element of unity that is deployed throughout the painting. The painting has multiple things going on within it but overall the colors tie it together. The colors red, white, and blue when seen together like this are used to represent and spark patriotism. Patriotism in itself unifies people. They can rally around a common interest, their country. It's one of the strongest bonds between people and unites people even during the darkest of times. By having this color scheme throughout the entire painting it shows that we are all living in the same country, are all equal under the law so we should all have the same rights and enjoy the same privileges. However, the color black adds an element of uncertainty and fear. By including the color black it serves as a reminder that there are American citizens who do not feel they have the same privileges and rights as others and therefore they do not feel this strong sense of patriotism towards America. If the people begin to separate and lose trust in the judicial system, it can be almost impossible to get them back and remind them that these policemen are here to help you and not hurt you. By unifying the picture with theses colors the artist brings the two separate lives of the people in the photo together. Their minds may live in separate worlds and view the country and everyone in it differently but they physically live in the same country at the same time. The black lives matter movement could arguably use this image as a way to represent how they feel the police are acting. They are being supremacists towards black people, this is driving people to want to rebel and protest. People want police to take responsibility for the lives they are ruining and the families they are tearing apart by ending innocent lives. The policemen say they are in danger but the movement says if it was a white person their first thought wouldn't be to shoot them, it would be to detain them first. Unifying people in this country is difficult, we all have different views and see the things that happen in a different light based off not only our skin color but also how and where we were raised. We all live in the same county and abide by the same rules but we are not all the same. This doesn't mean that any life is worth any less.

There are lives on the line both in this painting and in real life, and the painting uses realism to create a more personnel connection to the painting and the issues that it is addressing. The painting is painted in such a way that allows for the image to feel real. The police officers uniform is a particular point where the painting looks like a real life image, appearing to be authentic all the way down to the patch on his shoulder which has the bald eagle seal. Outside of the physical appearance of being real the color of the boy’s hoodie and the bag of candy in his hand can be connected to the killing of Treyvon Martin. A real African American boy who was killed by a night watchmen who mistook the bag of skittles he was holding for a weapon. There was a real life that was taken and this allows for an emotional connection to the painting and those that are affected by the issues it addresses. If this painting was painted in a more abstract matter it would be harder to create personal connections to it and would be less effective in communicating the paintings purpose. This painting is representative of how millions of American citizens feel towards police. They fear for their lives and not because there are murderers and robbers running amuck but because they fear that when they get pulled over for speeding they might be shot and killed by the police officer who pulled them over. For them this is a legitimate reality. As a white female this is something I had never considered. When I see a police officer I don't feel afraid or threatened, I feel the complete opposite. For me they are a sign of safety. For many innocent black lives the sight of a police officer is threatening. They don't want to be the next news headline but they know it's possible. "Will I be next?" This is a common phrase used by black lives matter protesters. They are emphasizing the fact that it could be any of them lying dead in the streets due to a policemen firing his weapon maybe a moment too early. Another realistic element in the painting is the KKK hood that the policeman is wearing. By having him wear this hood it immediately creates a feeling of racism. This is because the KKK is a real organization that’s sole purpose is to discriminate against people of color. 

Overall the image portrays what current America looks like and how the current injustices that African Americans are facing, especially pertaining to the police force, are resulting in a backward movement. This further emphasizes both the want and need for reform that African Americans are fighting for. The artist’s use of the color white and the symbol of a bag of sweeties to create a sense of innocence, organization to create a hierarchy, unity to evoke patriotism, and realism to create personal connection to the reader all give meaning to the painting and allow it to convey this message of social unrest. 
