Faith Ringgold Analysis

While Faith Ringgold has had a long and successful career, the most exciting and powerful works of art she has created were the works of the nineteen-sixties. These works illustrate such passion and raw truth of the situation she and all of the African American people of the U.S. were facing during those turbulent times. These works of art truly show the growing divide between the American dream and the reality of life for many people. Faith used her artwork to tell the world her views on the political movements of the time, and to also express her disapproval of violent protests that were happening. Ringgold believed that the rights of everyone could only be attained through the unification of all people at a basic undeniable level. The
This is a crucial message that Ringgold was trying to show the world. "The hand to the man's heart could symbolize his loyalty and devotion to his country, while the knife can be interpreted as his fight for freedom in this country that he cares so much for." "This double sided attitude of a single person representing the black community becomes both a denunciation and the artist's criticism of violent activism."(Great Women Masters of Art p. 439) One could speculate that this painting was also referencing the African American men fighting and dying in Vietnam, protecting the rights of the South Korean people and defending their country, while they weren't allowed the rights they deserved back home. She also possibly was sending a message to the more violent groups of the times such as the Black Panthers, that unity, opposed to violence would be the best way to accomplish their common goals. This very strong statement to the world was purposely simple in its design in order to make her painting more accessible to people, and to hopefully allow any person that looked at it understand the true meaning of her