The Art of the Civil Rights Movement: A Blueprint for a Unified Tomorrow

While today’s culture faces different challenges than those faced in the 1960s, society is marked by a similar restlessness for a transformation of the status quo. Technology’s exponential growth over the past twenty years undoubtedly brought great benefits, but some advances reduced in-person touchpoints. A study commissioned by the Cigna Group in 2021 discovered that 58% of US adults are considered lonely (Cigna Group, 2022). The United Kingdom’s Community Life Survey found that 48% of English adults feel lonely at least occasionally (Gov.UK, 2021). It is not surprising to see that loneliness, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a primary driver in rising depression rates. A 2023 Gallup Poll reported that a record-high 17.8% of the adult population of the United States is currently being treated for depression, up from 10.5% in 2015 (Witters, 2023). The UK Office for National Statistics reported similar results, with 16% of adults reporting moderate to severe depressive symptoms, down 1% from 2021 but up from 10% pre-pandemic (Office for National Statistics, 2022). The fallout from this loneliness epidemic extends beyond mental health, causing physical health to deteriorate as well. The American Psychological Association points out that social isolation significantly increases the probability of dementia, stroke, heart disease, and early death (Novotney, 2019). Though social media connects different countries and cultures, it is not entirely effective in satiating this hunger for human interaction. Ironically, social media actually functions as another driver of digital isolation, instead of serving as a solution. This is evidenced by a 2023 international study published in one of the European Health Psychology Society’s journals. Conducted with subjects from Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, researchers found that, “more time spent on social media was associated with higher levels of loneliness, even when adjusting for age group, living with spouse/partner, employment, and health worry” (Bonsaksen et al., 2023). There is a desperate need to stem this tide, but effective solutions are scarce. What can be done to facilitate a sense of belonging for humans across the world who are starved of it?

One step towards solving this dilemma is to recognize the fact that to some extent, belonging requires physical, in-person contact. Social media’s appeal lies in its ability to connect people across the globe around common interests and causes, but in reality it is a proxy for interactions that are more powerful in person. In 2022, US and German researchers conducted three large studies of college students to investigate this phenomenon. This study concluded that while digital interactions were better than no communication at all, “[face to face] interactions ... were associated with highest well-being on the within-person level” (Kroencke et al., 2022). The civil rights movement provides a compelling case study of how the arts can form the backbone of the material spaces needed to facilitate these vital face to face relationships and deepen existing ones. When the examples discussed earlier are investigated more closely, a thread emerges: nearly all of these artistic protests obtained their power and lasting influence through the use of physical spaces. Across galleries, concert halls, music festivals, and protest marches, art facilitated many of the hallmarks of deeper connection. Artists like Jacob Lawrence and the members of the Spiral Collective displayed their work in locations where viewers could come together and grapple with the difficult truths unveiled. In a similar way, Nina Simone and Duke Ellington attracted audiences who shared an affinity for their music and then revealed some of the blind spots that so often prevent healthy relationships. Sam Cooke’s studio recordings came to life in the group setting of the marches, enhancing a sense of camaraderie and belonging. While photographers like Bill Hudson and Gordon Parks worked in media that were consumed on a predominantly individual basis, they cultivated a sense of sympathy and heralded a call for the public to participate in something bigger than themselves. 

The civil rights movement derived much of its power from this combination of corporate gathering, shared interests, and a higher purpose. Art’s ability to draw people together played an integral role in this. It is this power that Ralph Ellison alluded to when he wrote about Romare Bearden’s work, remarking that, “to have done this successfully is not only to have added a dimension to the technical resourcefulness of art, but to have modified our way of experiencing reality” (Ellison, 1977). Artists are forced to balance their passion for aesthetically beautiful work with a responsibility to communicate universal truths in fresh and insightful ways. There is also the constant temptation Langston Hughes discussed, that of ignoring the necessity of cultural change for financial and social gain.  As society seeks a path forward amidst the fog of depression and loneliness, it is vital for art to serve as a beacon, shining a light on issues that plague day to day life. Art has the power to transform the public experience of reality, and art that accomplishes this purpose possesses the ability to stand the test of time and propel humanity forward. 

Thoughtful curation is crucial to harnessing art’s full potential as a catalyst societal change. Leaders in business, art and government must come together to design dynamic gathering places where people are able to find community. Creating a broad awareness of these places is more attainable than ever, as promoters can leverage technology to reach massive audiences quickly. Captivating spaces cultivate a sense of wonder that in many ways is self-promoting, as their alluring qualities can easily be shared with new demographics. Anyone with a mobile device becomes a photographer, calling others to action. Curation constitutes the cornerstone of any strategy for reaching the disparate cross-sections of society mentioned in this essay. First, the utilization of multiple art forms increases public intrigue, drawing in a wider variety of fans. Groups of people whose paths would not otherwise cross are brought together, letting their guard down due to their mutual interests. Increased diversity in the space then sparks conversations that shatter stereotypes, making participants feel more clearly seen and understood. Part of this comes from art’s ability to articulate emotions that are not always able to express in words. Since each artist pours their own unique perspective and experiences into their work, a variety of art forms improves the probability of an experience that resonates to the core of every person who encounters that art As humans tap into these deeper components of their being, they are able to share their reactions with those around them, feeling more wholly known in the process. When people are seen and known, they feel safer. Secure environments become the foundation of a healthy social climate; it is freeing to be able to go somewhere without having to suppress one’s personality or put up a facade in its place. People are free to laugh, cry, rejoice and mourn without fear of rejection. They are free to be who they were created to be. Loneliness dissolves in the face of such a reality. While the arts cannot single handedly crush loneliness, they are capable of enriching the relationships that can. Knowing this, it is crucial for curators to build collections and events that tell stories that unite communities. Such collections can in turn transform our world, charting a path for a more inclusive tomorrow.