Art and social change have never been seen as particularly divergent subjects. It doesn’t take much study of the American Civil Rights Movement, or any social change movement for that matter, before one begins to find the artists – the musicians, the writers, and the visual artists – who stand shoulder to shoulder with activists to charge us with moving ahead with the critical work of justice.
As part of our mission of teaching, studying, and promoting civil rights and social change, the Hooks Institute recognizes authors who contribute to non-fiction literature exploring the civil rights movement with the annual Benjamin L. Hooks National Book Award. This fall, the Hooks Institute launched a new initiative to recognize the role of artists in social change: the Frances Dancy Hooks Social Change Art Award and Exhibition.
It felt fitting to create a parallel award for artists in the name of Mrs. Hooks, celebrating her impact while also acknowledging the contributions of artists to the work of social change. In addition to being a dedicated partner in the work of her husband, Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks as the “First Lady of the NAACP,” Frances Dancy Hooks was a powerhouse who founded the Women in NAACP (WIN) to focus on issues pertaining to women and children. She was also a dedicated patron of the arts, supporting the Memphis Symphony League as well as serving as a trustee of the Memphis College of Art.
Given only the theme “The Beauty of Change,” the first year of the Frances Dancy Hooks Art Award and Exhibition saw an incredible diversity of artists, topics, and media, including sculpture, paintings, photography, digital collage, pastel and mixed media. Twelve finalist artworks were chosen from the submissions for exhibition in the Hooks Institute’s new office and the Ralph S. Faudree Exhibition Space.
The winning piece, “The Story is Not Over” by artist D.Weaver focused on the landmark Brown v Board of Education decision and the educational inequities still present today. Beautifully painted in vibrant acrylic, the bright pink background featured a stylized rendering of a white protest against desegregation. The foreground featured a modern-day young African American girl with an open book in hand. With 2024 marking the 70th anniversary of Brown, and continual battles surrounding best practices and management of public education, the topic could not have been more poignant, or timely.
James Baldwin counted many visual artists as friends, including Tennessee’s own Beauford Deleaney. Baldwin said, “Through their work, artists can motivate others to see the world differently, challenge preconceived notions, and inspire change.”
If this topic interests you, there are so many incredible artists and works to be discovered. A few of my personal favorites include:
Jean Michel Basquiat: “Defacement.” (Trigger Warning – police violence and trauma)
Banksy: “Girl with Balloon” and “Bomb Hugger.” This mysterious street artist often explores themes of economic and political justice as well as military violence.
Ana Mendieta: “Silueta Series.” Feminist and Sexual Justice (Trigger Warning – violence against women and sexual assault)
Pablo Picasso – “La Guernica.” This famous piece is a commentary on the horrors of war.
Art Shay – “Images of the Fayette County Tennessee Civil Rights Movement.” The Hooks Institute has a curated exhibition of the photography of LIFE Magazine Photographer Art Shay pertaining to the Fayette County Tennessee Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. This exhibition is currently on display in the Memphis International Airport.
Amy Ruggaber, MPA, is the Assistant Director of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis with expertise in nonprofit management, education, public policy, and strategic communication. With more than twenty years of experience in the arts and culture field, specifically, her research and leadership focuses on initiatives aimed at advancing social justice and equity.
