15 photos
The gallery of images below emerges from the imagination of a wounded city in a wounded world.
It could have been so much worse. The slow killing of George Floyd in broad daylight sent shock waves through the world, reaching my home town: the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. 500 vehicles took advantage of the torment and came through Kalamazoo, menacing the public and breaking windows. The next night began very differently, as a group of young people breached a downtown curfew to face off against the police and the national guard with poise, discipline and non violent civil disobedience. They were assaulted by the police with teargas.
The energy in the air was ready to spiral out of control. Spiral out it did indeed, in ways you may not have expected: color spiralled out through the streets, play spiralled out within the walls, feeling spiralled out across windows and beauty spiralled out onto pavement, glass, concrete and plywood.
These photographs are my attempt to record this alchemy: This transmuting of pain and confusion into voices and visions in the heart of this imagining city. These pages include my photos taken on the evening of June 19 (Juneteenth) and in the daylight on June 21, 2020 as well as links to other media coverage.
VINE STREET | USA | WORLD
KALAMAZOO PROTESTS | GLOBAL IMPACT
The menu of links below can be veiwed on their own terms. I see them as illustrating the following premise: The Kalamazoo Black Lives Matter street art is part of a movement that is changing the world. The Black Lives Matter art I found in Kalamazoo is part of a larger body of art found by others throughout Kalamazoo, the USA and the world. These Black Lives Matter artworks are part of a protest movement that has shifted the political and cultural landscape accross this city, this nation and this planet.
Black Lives Matter’ mural painted on street in downtown Kalamazoo
Mark Frankhouse (WKFR) Artists Paint Tributes On Boarded Up Windows In Downtown Kalamazoo
Al Jones (Second Wave) Photo essay: Black Lives Matters opens discussions on what is important
Al Jones (Second Wave) Photo Essay: 2020 Juneteenth was a celebration
(Mlive) Artists create Black Lives Matter mural on downtown Kalamazoo street
Downtown Kalamazoo windows go from bleak to moving with a message from local artists
'Virtual' and live events are planned to celebrate Juneteenth in Kalamazoo
Juneteenth block party brings celebration to Kalamazoo neighborhood - mlive.com
Downtown Kalamazoo Juneteenth celebrations include street mural, block party | WWMT
Five Female Muralists Creating Protest Art
The Art of Protest: Artists Create Images in Support of Black Lives Matter
Street art appearing supporting Black Live Matter movement | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Secret Project That Led to Black Lives Matter Murals Coast to Coast | The New Yorker
Black Lives Matter Murals Color Streets Across The Country (Photos)
Color is not a crime: New York's Black Lives Matter street art | World news | The Guardian
Kadir Nelson’s “Say Their Names” | The New Yorker
Artists For Democracy Capture Protests And Social Change In Real-Time Sketches | The ARTery
The ‘Black Lives Matter’ Street Art That Contain Multitudes
Rep. John Lewis tours Black Lives Matter street mural with D.C. mayor
Black Lives Matter art on Jamaica bridge spurs VTrans policy change - VTDigger
How George Floyd's Death Spoke to a Syrian Artist in Idlib | Time
How Is the Art World Responding to the Black Lives Matter Movement Now? | Widewalls
PHOTOS: The Global South Shows Solidarity For George Floyd : Goats and Soda : NPR
Black Lives Matter to K-pop artists, including BTS, and fans | The Spokesman-Review
30 Black Lives Matter Street Art Photos—Black Lives Matter Street Washington DC
July 28, 2016 - In the midst of threats, Black Lives Matter Kalamazoo stands strong
Monday, May 25, 2020 - George Floyd is killed.
Friday, May 29 - George Floyd’s death ‘heartbreaking,' Kalamazoo-area officials say in condemning Minneapolis officers
Saturday, May 30 - Hundreds gather for a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Kalamazoo
Throngs crowd downtown Kalamazoo from day’s second protest – mlive.com
Monday, June 1 - Chief explains use of ‘crowd management team’ at Kalamazoo protests – mlive.com
Tuesday, June 2 - ‘Outside agitators’ forced officers to deploy tear gas, pepper spray in Kalamazoo, police sayKalamazoo protesters urge police to join them, are tear-gassed after curfew – mlive.com
Kalamazoo police address video of firing tear gas at group lying on the ground | WWMT
Full video: Police deploy tear gas on protesters in downtown Kalamazoo - YouTube
Article: Police deploy tear gas on protesters in downtown Kalamazoo - mlive.com
‘We want real change, not chump change,’ says Kalamazoo County Commissioner
Wednesday, June 3 - Silent protest held in Kalamazoo | News | westernherald.com
Protesters demand answers over police actions in Kalamazoo | News | WKZO
Kalamazoo's curfew is in place until Tuesday, but it could be shortened | WWMT
Kalamazoo mayor calls for community ‘self-police’ as curfew dropped | WOODTV.com
Newly-elected KPS superintendent releases letter regarding George Floyd protests | News | WKZO
Kalamazoo curfew lifted, city encourages lawful protests
West Michigan sees several days of protests and civil unrest | WWMTCW
West Michigan lawyer says police officer training should mitigate use of excessive force | WWMT
Kalamazoo County commissioners question police response to protesters | Michigan Radio
June 5 - Kalamazoo students hold Black Lives Matter march through downtown | News | WKZO
June 12 - Outside investigator will review police use of tear gas on Kalamazoo protesters – mlive.com
‘Racism is a public health crisis’ says Michigan Black Caucus in Kalamazoo
June 16 - Here Are the 100 U.S. Cities Where Protesters Were Tear-Gassed - The New York Times
June 17 - Commissioners received more than 1,000 emails about racism in Kalamazoo County
June 19 - Artists create Black Lives Matter mural on Rose Street to celebrate Juneteenth | WWMT
June 19 - The role of police in schools is being debated in Kalamazoo
June 20 - 8-year-old leads marchers during Black Lives Matter demonstration in Kalamazoo – YouTube
June 23 - After the Protests, What Then?...He Wonders
June 26 - Review of Kalamazoo Public Safety’s handling of protests is set for ongoing debate
July 11 - Friends Of George Floyd Speak In Kalamazoo
July 14 - WMU Theatre, Face Off Theatre partner to bring “Black Lives, Black Words” back to Kalamazoo
How Gen Z Has Powered Protests For Racial Justice
Why did Black Lives Matter protests attract unprecedented white support?
How Black Lives Matter Protests Have Changed The World After George Floyd’s Death
How the Politics of Antiracism Impact Art, Culture, and Literature - Politics Today
George Floyd Protest Coalition Is Multiracial — and Fragile
After the George Floyd protests, what next for racial justice in the US? | World Economic Forum
Why Protests Work - The Atlantic
How George Floyd’s death, anti-racism protests are changing 2020 politics - SFChronicle.com
What the George Floyd protests have achieved in just two weeks | US news | The Guardian
Nonracist to antiracist: 7 big changes George Floyd inspired - Los Angeles Times
How 2 weeks of protests have changed America - Vox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
