Guest Feature: Tongue
June 10, 2020
Written by tongue
Three weeks ago, a lot of folks around the country weren’t aware of the existence of a Black community in Minnesota or Minneapolis. Not beyond Prince and Mint Condition at least. Although the circumstances that have led to our exposure are terrible, I feel, and have always felt, proud to be a Minnesotan from south Minneapolis. South Minneapolis is a section with diverse housing and several ethnic enclaves, from Somali refugee immigrants to generations of Mexican, naturalized citizens, along with a large indigenous native population, Black neighborhoods and white residents. With all of that said, south Minneapolis is also in the middle of gentrification. Like many cities around the United States, Minneapolis is segregated from the mostly white neighborhoods in the outer lying suburbs.
Minnesota has long been a police state; and the policing in south Minneapolis is vastly relaxed in comparison to north Minneapolis, which the city planning infrastructure maps call “Negro Slums.” Historically, policing in north Minneapolis is much more dense and the disparities are stark between north and south Minneapolis, with the southside being the “better half” of Minneapolis. That’s just some context leading up to the recent uprisings.
Despite all that has gone on in recent weeks, the artist community here has been a space for healing. And that community is what I am most proud of.
Given all that has taken place, I thought I should write this because my voice as an artist has yet to be heard. Due to the quarantine, I haven’t been able to fellowship with my family in the Minneapolis art community. However — I know that a large portion of the art community here has been, and are, in the practices of healing through different artistic mediums, and are putting a lot of their efforts into making sure their actions are louder than their voices. So, this is my attempt to contribute to our community.
About a week after George Floyd was killed, I was walking with a family member to a local store in the Dinkytwon district, an area made famous by Bob Dylan, near the University of Minnesota. While walking they pointed out the artistic statements on some of the boarded up stores. Statements of Black Lives Matter, Fuck 12, denouncing police brutality, and the words “I can’t breathe” - the final words heard by George Floyd - were plastered across the city. After noticing the art on the street, I knew I had to photograph it, for documentation and because this may prove a true turning point in my city, state, and country.
As an artist from Minneapolis, I was devastated by the events of George Floyd’s murder, and the police/government response. I was born and raised in the neighborhoods where most of the impacts can be felt. And although I feel affected in a lot of ways, so many of us in the artist community have used this time to heal and think about the future we want to see.
Members of the community have held healing events at Pimento Jamaican Rum bar, a Black owned, Jamaican restaurant that has been greatly active in serving the Minneapolis arts scene and community through their space. They have been a great support to the Minneapolis community, and over the past few weeks have converted their event space into a depot for supplies and resources including, but not limited to, food for those in need. Pimento and the art community here are examples of what we will need going forward, community support, artistic expression, and a reimagining of the world we want.
Just Us Peace Playlist:
#JustUsPeace is a playlist I put together for the sake of musically healing trauma. I want to extend my heART as an artist and I was inspired by my peers artists like: @mikailatiq, @iamalexforte, @astralblak. I hope you can enjoy this with the bravery and vulnerability needed for healing. I add that — some of the lyrics may be considered triggering as the artists are addressing sensitive subjects. I just felt it was necessary to include statements that were real to life and I only mean to extend my heart. One love.
About the Photos:
Following the murder of George Floyd, the city of Minneapolis has seen passion filled uprisings. So many of us have been expressive through our different mediums and social medias. The photos included are my offering to that informative dialogue. They were captured in Dinkytown, Minneapolis, and at the Cup Foods location on 38th St and Chicago Ave, where George Floyd's life was taken.
