We Hold These Truths: Artistic Voices of Youth 

The Declaration of Independence written in 1776 tells the half-truths of American History. America was never “discovered” - the full truth should highlight the systematic exploitation, murder, defilement and displacement of indigenous people from land European colonizers stole and staked claim to. American wealth, power and the robust economy is not a result of exceptional intelligence or hard work - the full truth should acknowledge the rise of the United States as an economic and political powerhouse only being possible because of the kidnapping and enslavement of millions of black and brown people who built this country up for hundreds of years for free. The Declaration is a half-truth and an incomplete artifact of American history that negated the full personhood of indigenous people and African Americans, and rendered women with little to no rights.

The artists of, “We Hold These Truths: Artistic Voices of Youth” represent the resilience, brilliance, and existence of promising individuals who are most at-risk for their dreams to be deferred and their life outcomes marginalized because of America’s unresolved racist and entitled history. Each quilt in the “We Hold These Truths: Artistic Voices of Youth” showcase aims to inform, educate, and inspire truth telling:

• The ABC quilt brings to light many issues that have been rendered invisible or deemed issues of the past.  As you look closely at the ABC quilt, you can find hidden messages that illustrate the gravity of each issue. In the “A” block you will see the number 4,743. This represents the number of reported lynchings in the south from 1882-1968, though it is impossible to quantify the total number of lynchings that have occurred that went unreported.
• The Art Behind Bars quilt was made by incarcerated men at San Francisco County Jail where the injustices and biases of our justice system cannot be overlooked. The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Prisoner Statistics Program reported in 2013 that there were 745,000 black males incarcerated in the United States; that is more than the total prison populations in India, Argentina, Canada, Lebanon, Japan, Germany, Finland, Israel, and England combined. Additionally, there are nearly 490,000 Latinx males incarcerated in the United States, meaning that black and Latinx males make up 59% of the 2.2 million people incarcerated despite making up a combined 29% of the total US population.
• The HERstory quilt recognizes that women have been at the forefront of social justice movements from the beginning of time, despite getting the least amount of recognition.  It is important to know these women, to honor their stories, to understand their struggles, and to recognize their courage and contributions because we have all benefited from their sacrifice. Before flipping through the guide that accompanies this quilt, test yourself by counting how many women on the quilt you recognize and can speak to their legacy? The hope is that gender equity in social justice starts with acknowledging the foremothers of movements.
• A Twitter Tantrum, as defined by urban dictionary, occurs “when a Twitter user is at odds with one or more of his/her fellow Twitterers. This is typically characterized by a confrontational exchange of "tweets" during which threats are made to unfollow (block), etc. This is not atypical behavior considering the often self-absorbed and self-serving personality traits of the participants and their insatiable need for attention and validation.” These words also accurately describe the 45th president. Through his tweets he has appealed to white supremacist rhetoric and validated and endorsed racist, misogynistic, hateful, and violent behavior and mindsets. He has made it ok to be dishonest, he has made it ok to morally bankrupt, he has made it ok to objectify women.  Unfortunately and with regularity, more of these hurtful, divisive, hateful words come from our 45th president every day.  THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

The denial of the ugly and corrupt truths our nation attempts to cover up, erase, or intellectualize away as an issue of the past perpetuates the silencing of equal citizens in this democracy.  It is time to place a spotlight and a megaphone on the oppression and marginalization of black and brown, incarcerated, LGBT, queer, women and underemployed Americans so that an honest confrontation and resolution of our nation’s past and present indiscretions can commence. We will never have an equitable and fair society until every voice absent during the writing of the Declaration of Independence is now present to shape the future direction of America. “We Hold These Truths: Artistic Voices of Youth” is the start of an overdue dialogue and call to action to honor full truths and acknowledge marginalized people as equals.