Prompt 3: What do you think of Glenn Ligon’s artwork entitled RUNAWAYS? What part of it is of the most interest to you and why? Also, what did you think of the related INTERWOVEN exhibit in Brownsburg, VA? What part of it is of most interest to you and why? Be sure to be very specific!
I think the artwork is very interesting to look at and is very interesting concept in general. The idea of a descriptive text and stylish image to alert anyone and everyone to find and return your property is crazy to think about. The descriptive text and picture reminds me of a lost pet sign; these signs in return, reduce these enslaved people to pets, things to be manipulated and trained to obey. All the descriptive details seem to ensure that the ran away slave was surely to be found and it is unfortunate to think about how important these enslaved people to make work cheeper and efficient while also being treated so inhumane.
Regarding the Brownsburg exhibit, I thought it was very informative and eye opening. One thing that stuck out to me was how the enslaved people were simply a price tag to be traded and forced to work. I couldn’t imagine putting a price tag on a human life like with the image at the exhibit of the price of an enslaved man going for 1,800, but I’m sure for the people of the time, many didn’t see the enslaved people as people but objects to control. I can’t begin to understand how someone could take someone else’s identity away from them and use them for labor. Another interesting thing from the exhibit I found out about was that the enslaved people looked for others ways to claim some sort of identity through the possession of (if I remember correctly), tea pots, and some other nice decor. All other things aside, It is empowering to know that despite the troubling circumstances, the black community continued to find and fight for freedom through any means they could.
Your observation about how the descriptive text and imagery in “Runaways” are a parallel to the concept of lost pet signs is very thought-provoking. It shows the dehumanization experienced by enslaved individuals, reducing them to property. The juxtaposition of detailed descriptions with the harsh reality of slavery shows the objectification in the system. Regarding the Brownsburg exhibit, your reaction to the price tags attached to enslaved individuals captures the exploitation of human lives during that time. Your acknowledgment of the enslaved community’s efforts to reclaim their identity through personal possessions, like teapots, shows their determination to assert their humanity. Your response made me think of what emotions are evoked in me when encountering the artwork and exhibit. These encounters caused a mix of emotions in me, such as anger and sadness to admiration. Seeing the reminders of slavery’s violence and the resilience of those who endured it evoked a sense of empathy. It also highlighted the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths about history and actively working towards justice today. This response then caused me to circle back to Melba Beals’ memoir and how people at the time were beyond afraid to confront the system of segregation even if they did see it as morally wrong.
Acknowledging your mentioning of possessions like wine glasses / tea pots and the like, it is interesting to see how such modest possessions can contribute to improving one’s sense of personhood. Slavery is a dehumanizing institution that tries to commodify life. People are treated like things, but to possess things associated with “the finer things in life” like a wine glass, allows one to claw back some of the humanity denied to them by their station as a slave. Pleasure and leisure are major facets of what make life worth living, and they are facets denied to slaves. It is nice to know that their were some parts of life that allowed for some enjoyment on the part of the enslaved. Still, it will always be a puzzling reality to ponder.
Your insights into Glenn Ligon’s artwork “RUNAWAYS” and the INTERWOVEN exhibit we saw in Brownsburg, VA, are incredibly thought-provoking. I find that the comparison you draw between the descriptive text and image in “RUNAWAYS” and lost pet signs is particularly striking. It truly highlights just how dehumanizing the treatment of enslaved people was, as it shows how they were often reduced to animals or missing property that must be recovered rather than recognizing their humanity and agency.
Furthermore, I appreciate how your post not only emphasizes the inherent cruelty of slavery but also acknowledges the strength and resilience of the enslaved community. It is truly empowering and has made me reflect not only on the lasting impact of historical injustice but also on the incredible strength it took to fight through it.
Your comment about how enslaved people yearned to “claim some sort of identity” through their possessions is the most intriguing. As displayed in the Brownsburg exhibit, these possessions served as symbols of identity and autonomy, providing a sense of continuity with their past lives and cultural heritage. Furthermore, it is important to recognize how this legacy of rich cultural heritage has profoundly shaped modern black culture, influencing everything from music and dance to spiritual beliefs and community activism. As far as the rest of the Brownsburg exhibit, I found the old church bench to be the most powerful piece. Despite its note asserting “Please sit!,” I felt far from inclined to do so because of the following note “Bench from the Colored section.”
I think your reflection does a good job of acknowledging the descriptive text and imagery used not just in the artwork but specifically in the Brownsburg Museum. It is so important to recognize the significance of what Brownsburg is doing. You did a great job of putting it into words as it is quite unimaginable putting a price tag on a human life but we have to acknowledge that this is the cruel American past time.
I agree with you that it is empowering that the black American community has been able to continue to fight for their freedom and equal rights. It is in no way the same, but as a woman, I can relate to some of the prejudices from white men. It is with some shame and then pride that even today we are still fiercely fighting for equity. You raise a good point that the black community has come together to continuing to raise awareness and fight for equity but I would argue that American women are also part of this fight. I think this has been shown in the me too movement and the fight for equal pay in women’s sports. It is not the same but we are in some ways fighting the same beast.
I think you’ve taken away some interesting things from the Glenn Ligon exhibit and from the museum in Brownsburg. To say the pictures remind you of a lost pet sign is accurate, but when you really think about slavery, black people were not even treated as well as pets and livestock. They were not considering a valuable animal or human life, except for what they could offer the plantations as a tradeable commodity. Glenn Ligon’s work parallels a lot of the old slave advertisements, with a twist of his friends writing some positives about his demeanor, which would not be present in racial profiling today and probably less frequently back then.
I also was struck by how little a human life was worth and the price tag of selling a person being only $55,000 today, when any major organ in the body sells for more than that. It’s staggering that a value can be placed on a person in such a way, where it is based on what they can provide, such as childbearing hips to keep the slave population on the plantation growing, or a stronger back and muscles with a submissive attitude, so the slave will not grow weary as quickly or run. These are the things taken into consideration in the commodification of a human life. Some had to make the choice to run away and leave their entire family behind to start anew. Others made life as tolerable as possible through culture and developing some sense of humanity for themselves which we can see in the archaelogical finds that you mentioned.