Banksy’s Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days
The iconic anonymous artist and avid social critic Banksy is back with a new piece of art in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Along with the artwork, which features a burning American flag lit by a candle, came a powerful message. “People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system,” the elusive street artist stated in an Instagram post. It has now been liked more than 2.4 million times.
It’s not the first time that Banksy has made a statement with his art. Previously, he paid a tribute to the front-line health workers battling the coronavirus pandemic. Read about the piece called “Game Changer” in our previous post right here. Before that, the Bristol-born artist revealed a funky take on the lockdown in this piece of a rat-infested bathroom.
More info: Instagram | banksy.co.uk
The artist has paid a tribute to George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement in this powerful artwork
Image credits: banksy
Image credits: banksy
He also shared this moving message
Image credits: banksy
A Black Lives Matter protest took over the streets of Bristol, England on Sunday near where Banksy is presumed to have been born. Local police estimated that 10,000 protesters participated.
During the protest, demonstrators pulled down a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston. They tied the bronze statue with rope before taking it down as the crowd cheered.
According to local police, “There was a small group of people who clearly committed an act of criminal damage in pulling down a statue near Bristol Harbourside.” The police are said to have started an investigation into the matter.
Mr. Floyd died as a result of a white police officer holding him down by pressing his knee into his neck in Minneapolis on 25 May. The incident sparked the George Floyd protests that we’re now seeing all over the world.
And this is how people reacted
Previously, Banksy revealed his piece “Game Changer” as a tribute to front-line health workers
Image credits: banksy
“My wife hates it when I work from home,” posted Banksy along with this funky artwork
Image credits: banksy
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My grandfather died fighting in ww2. I had to join the military to fund college. Kiss my white a*s. I have had very little privilege.
Tell me about it. I've been poor and white most of my adult life. I lived in s****y neighborhoods, because that's all i could afford. I've been robbed, my house has been shot up by gang wars, and I gone through more s**t than many people. I've been harassed on a regular basis by police as well, when I was driving a truck that had bumper stickers on it. What is this "white privilege" that you speak of?
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The contrasts in the work of black and white are purposeful to show the racial divide. The figure in the picture is sort of an anyman figure, meaning it could be any African American because many have been victims. The flowers and candles represent the thoughts and condolences, but they are not actions. With out action it will continue, hence the candle burning the flag. The flag and the flame are the only part of the painting in full color, and are subject of this work, and in this case, the root this situation.
First, notice all the posts about people not understanding Banksy's work offer no explanation of the work Those people can just stuff it . Second, I like Banksy, but he is commenting on racism in America. He is not American. Also, he is white. That is kind of like you can call someone in you family an idiot, but non family better not do it.
I like the order of the pictures better on the original Instagram post: 1) close-up of portrait & candle. 2) Memorial candle catching flag on fire. 3) Text statement.
This is so tone-deaf and shows what he is saying went directly over your head. There being affluent, powerful Black folk has NOTHING to do with what he is saying.....
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Honestly, I'm not impressed by your comment. I don't find it to be intelligent. It feels like someone trying to have something to say.
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You feel we still live in the midset of the 1950s? Just because *everything* doesn't change, immediately, doesn't mean "nothing" changes. Attitudes can't be changed. But they can be outlived.
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How does that make a police officer kneeling on his neck, preventing him from breathing and finally killing him okay? How does that mean we've been 'had'? How does that explain that this kind of thing happens to a disproportionate number of black people?
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It is not just a bad cop problem. It's a society issue. Everyone should have the right to be treated equally despite their race, gender, religion or sexual preference. It's 2020 for God sake. Hate produces hate.
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I wipe my a*s with "your" flag. If the burning of a rag offends you but not the killing of innocents in it's name, you're a sad excuse of a human being.
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My grandfather died fighting in ww2. I had to join the military to fund college. Kiss my white a*s. I have had very little privilege.
Tell me about it. I've been poor and white most of my adult life. I lived in s****y neighborhoods, because that's all i could afford. I've been robbed, my house has been shot up by gang wars, and I gone through more s**t than many people. I've been harassed on a regular basis by police as well, when I was driving a truck that had bumper stickers on it. What is this "white privilege" that you speak of?
Load More Replies... The contrasts in the work of black and white are purposeful to show the racial divide. The figure in the picture is sort of an anyman figure, meaning it could be any African American because many have been victims. The flowers and candles represent the thoughts and condolences, but they are not actions. With out action it will continue, hence the candle burning the flag. The flag and the flame are the only part of the painting in full color, and are subject of this work, and in this case, the root this situation.
First, notice all the posts about people not understanding Banksy's work offer no explanation of the work Those people can just stuff it . Second, I like Banksy, but he is commenting on racism in America. He is not American. Also, he is white. That is kind of like you can call someone in you family an idiot, but non family better not do it.
I like the order of the pictures better on the original Instagram post: 1) close-up of portrait & candle. 2) Memorial candle catching flag on fire. 3) Text statement.
This is so tone-deaf and shows what he is saying went directly over your head. There being affluent, powerful Black folk has NOTHING to do with what he is saying.....
Load More Replies... Honestly, I'm not impressed by your comment. I don't find it to be intelligent. It feels like someone trying to have something to say.
Load More Replies... You feel we still live in the midset of the 1950s? Just because *everything* doesn't change, immediately, doesn't mean "nothing" changes. Attitudes can't be changed. But they can be outlived.
Load More Replies... How does that make a police officer kneeling on his neck, preventing him from breathing and finally killing him okay? How does that mean we've been 'had'? How does that explain that this kind of thing happens to a disproportionate number of black people?
Load More Replies... It is not just a bad cop problem. It's a society issue. Everyone should have the right to be treated equally despite their race, gender, religion or sexual preference. It's 2020 for God sake. Hate produces hate.
Load More Replies... I wipe my a*s with "your" flag. If the burning of a rag offends you but not the killing of innocents in it's name, you're a sad excuse of a human being.
Load More Replies...
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