“Racism/Incident at Little Rock” is the image above, illustrated by Domingo Ulloa in 1957. By looking at the painting we see a contrast of colors and facial expressions which shows us the difference in emotions depending on your race. In the center of the image the children are shown holding books walking into school.  There are white figures in the back that look like monsters wanting to kill the kids. When you look at this image you see the unity of the African American community. The unity shown is extremely important because at the time this painting was illustrated the segregation and tension between the races was at an all-time high. The children are huddled showing fear but more importantly representing unity.

There are many difference aspects of this picture that we can analyze. The first element is color. The colors of an image play a huge role in how the viewer feels. First of all, we can look at the colors of the kids outfits. The light blue represents youth, the youth can be talking about the ages of the kids, or it can be describing the youth of the new era that is beginning with the beginning of the end of racism. The blue on the girl shows her calm demeanor and peace she is showing on the outside, whether she feels calm and peaceful on the inside is different story. The next little boy is wearing yellow, which in this image represents optimism. The boy may not be feeling optimistic about the situation but the optimism of the whole black race on his back. The African American society is putting all their faith and power into these children in hopes of changing the way of life for the generation to come. The little boy on the end is wearing a green shirt. His face is more stern and the green can represent jealousy. The jealousy of the people who can go to school and get a better education simply because of their skin tone or jealousy of the other African American students who don’t have to walk through a crowd of hateful white adults.  The colors of the outfits give the viewer a sense of how not only the children feel but how whole race of African Americans feel. The black society is depending on the youth and bravery of the kids to open up doors for the next generation. 

The background and body language of the characters in the image help explain the theme. The first girl’s shoulders are somewhat shrugged and hunched over. I think this symbolizes her fear of having to walk in between this group of “monsters”. Her facial expression is somewhat blank; I think this is her way of hiding how she really feels. The painter wanted to show her bravery and lack of showing emotions as her strength.  The little boy next to her is standing up in a rigid manner. His face looks full of fear, his eyes are wide open absorbing his surroundings and taking in the full experience. The third girl seems to be looking directly at the viewer. When I look at her I feel a sense of fear and like she is crying out for help. The little boys on the end look somewhat angry and nervous. The background of the picture is filled with white figures with huge mouths. They are throwing their arms in the air and seem to be yelling. They look like they want to attack the six children with their huge mouths and lengthy bodies. 

“Racism/Incident at Little Rock” has a very precise way of showing the line patterns. There seems to be a curve of the monsters all leaning in towards the center of the image. I think this is just emphasizing the children in the middle. The pathway on the ground is even curved narrowing towards behind the children. I think this is showing that the road they are heading is widening. As if they are broadening the path for the upcoming generations. There is a light shining on the path behind the group. The light is kind of pointy as in the shape of a flame in my opinion which I think just adds the intensity to the picture.  In the back of the white creatures there are colors of red and grey. I think this can symbolize the anger from the white creatures of the new becoming of the races. It can also symbolize the danger of the children and the danger of the community if this plan for the children falls through. They grey in the sky is showing the dignity of the youths as they have to hold their head high and be more brave then they ever have been before. I think the lack of directions of lines shows that there was no set way to make this happen. There was no guide line for how to end segregation, however, the actions that the children took created a pathway for the future generations. 

Ulloa’s image has some hidden details and meanings that, once discovered, give off the theme of unity and bravery. The detailed lines in the image, or lack thereof, represent the diminishing of the lines of segregation The stand that the children took to walk through the group of “monsters” opened the door way for the rest African Americans that won’t have to go through the hatred and troubles they did. The use of colors and body language also close out the theme of the fear and determination that the children displayed. Overall, this illustration does gives a vivid feeling of segregation but also unity from the African American community. 
