#PictureStudySoWhite you’d think black folks were allergic to paint.
If I could remember the password to my Twitter account, I’d tweet that right now. But instead, I’m writing here. Some people tweet. I post.
If you have no clue what my hashtag means, I’ll give you a little background:
“One January morning in 2015, as I watched that year’s Oscar nominations announced without a single person of color in any of the lead- or supporting-actor categories, I tweeted, “#OscarsSoWhite, they asked to touch my hair.” The hashtag went viral and started a movement that continues today.”
April Reign, Diversity and inclusion consultant who ignited an amazing movement within the entertainment business
My personal quote, homeschool style, would be “One March morning in 2019, as I looked for picture study resources and found hardly a single artist of color recommended in any Charlotte Mason curriculum, I posted, “#PictureStudySoWhite, you’d think black folks were allergic to paint.” The hashtag didn’t go viral but it made me feel better.
Last year, there was a mom on a CM Facebook page who expressed frustration that there wasn’t more diversity in the Charlotte Mason picture study recommendations. The first to comment on her post was a woman who said something like, “That’s because Charlotte Mason wanted the children to study the best of the best…yada, yada…and we should stick with those until the children are in high school…yada, yada…” I would give anything to have a screenshot for you, but the post was removed after I replied.
Admittedly, I was upset because she basically said that old white guys were the best, and I found that highly offensive. Yes, the old white guys were amazing and we should study them, but they were also the only ones given the opportunities and acknowledged as being the best because of sexism and racism. But now we know better, right? And when you know better, you do better, right?
I responded to the misinformed comment after she had quickly removed her reply. I’m assuming she realized how crazy she sounded, or maybe she had a good friend in the group who shot her a loving text letting her know how crazy she sounded. Every girl should have a friend like that, by the way. In any case, I felt free to speak uncensored truth because I didn’t call any names and her reply was gone by then, so no need to protect the guilty.
Predictably, she got mad because her fragile feelings were hurt, and she outed herself by replying to my comment and letting everyone know that she was the offensive mama living under a rock.
And then the post was taken down.
Because we were having a real conversation about race.
And real conversations about race aren’t always allowed in the CM world.
So yes. #PictureStudySoWhite and will continue to be for a lot of kids. But not mine. We’ve always done 4 terms of picture study – the traditional white terms 1-3 and the “black term.” Yes, I know CM said the kids need a break and all of that, but I rank mental health over following Ms. Mason to a tee.
“We cannot measure the influence that one or another artist has upon the child’s sense of beauty, upon his power of seeing, as in a picture, the common sights of life; he is enriched more than we know in having really looked at even a single picture.”
(Vol. 1, p. 309)
During the 4th term, I make my own rules, so the artists may not be in our time period though I do try. They may not be of any critical importance to most people. And they may not even be painters (Dave the Potter, for example). Yes, I know that’s not technically a picture study, but should we not study other amazing forms of visual art? And when I was challenged on that by a well-meaning die-hard CM mom, I referred to the Simply Charlotte Mason Picture Study Portfolio for Michelangelo because those portfolios are worshiped in CM world (and I have a shelf of them myself), and the Michelangelo one includes pictures of…sculptures.
For the cherry on top, I always include seeing the artist’s original work – either locally or during a summer road trip.
After a couple of years of adding a 4th term, I decided to live on the edge and actually integrate black artists into my regular 3-term schedule this year. I still might do a 4th artist for fun over the summer but not because I feel beholden to curriculum recommendations, what’s readily available, or what my friends and FB peeps are doing during the first three terms.
If my children walk away from the table thinking that black people and women haven’t contributed anything worthy of serious study and introspection then shame on me.
And since I’m going through the work of pulling together the resources for these studies, I plan to share them here. Hopefully, it will save some of my sweet comrades hours of research and prep work. But more importantly, I hope it will inspire other Charlotte Mason moms and school teachers to show their children that God doesn’t discriminate. He didn’t drop all of the talent into the hands and minds of white men alone. Other people do have and have had amazing under-represented and under-celebrated talent.
Rules of engagement: I’m not going to reinvent the wheel. Some of the artist posts will be links to resources that someone else has already put together. In those cases, I’ll just try to get it all in the same place for you. However, I haven’t found much elsewhere so for most of the artists, I’m going to share what I’ve done or what I plan to do. I’m not re-writing an artist bio in my own words, but I will include everything you need to have a fruitful picture study in your home.
OK, let’s get to it!
I will link the posts here as I get them completed, and I’ll add to the list as I go. These are listed in the order I plan to have them completed, and it’s subject to change.
- Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859 – 1937)
- Romare Bearden (1911 – 1988)
- Horace Pippin (1888 – 1946)
- Jacob Lawrence (1917 – 2000)
- Augusta Savage (1892 – 1962)
- Prince Demah (1745-1778)
- Joshua Johnson (1763 – 1832)
- Faith Ringgold (1930 – )
- Alma Thomas (1891 – 1978)
- Robert S. Duncanson (1821 – 1872)
- Clementine Hunter (1886 – 1988)
This is so excellent to see. I felt the same way last year. We have been transitioning into more of the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling and realized that there was so little representation of brown artists. This year we have studied #1, #3 and #4 from your list. We are planning to study Caribbean artist, David Moore this summer.
I definitely feel that these conversations should be broached as we are living in a diverse world that requires representations. Maybe I went a little hard by doing only black artists this year, but I’m ok with that.
I’m OK with that too! Way to go! As you see the study materials posted, please let me know if I’m missing a great resource that you used or saw during your studies.
Thank you for this! I found your post after starting to look at the enrichment studies on simply Charlotte mason and realizing there was only one woman and no artists of color. I love that resource but we needed more! Thank you for putting the effort into these and sharing them!
You’re welcome. I love the SCM packs too. I REALLY wish that they or someone else would make pretty ones with diverse artists. They’d sell sooooo many! Mine are not professional, by any means, but it’s what I use in my home. They’re homemade with love 🙂
I just wanted to say Thank You!
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you took the time to read it, and I hope the upcoming study materials will be useful to you.
Amen. Have you seen Alice Thomas’s paintings? Because they are so alive and I love them. https://americanart.si.edu/artist/alma-thomas-4778
For all the emphasis on “living” books I’m so unenthused with the choices on picture and composer studies….like I like Monet as much as the next girl but aren’t my kids already getting exposed to Monet.
If it comes as a phone case, maybe we should dig a little deeper 😉
No, I wasn’t familiar with her at all, but I just checked her out. Thank you for making the introduction. The diverse choices for the convenient pre-made artist studies are bleak, so I’ll continue to post mine here, but someday I hope to make them pretty and easy-to-use…or maybe somebody else will beat me to it, and I’ll rejoice, lol.
Yes! This year I finally got fed up and made my own Horace Pippin packet. It IS more work and I do wish I had more information on the paintings in one spot, but it has been a relief to share his beautiful story of sacrifice and perseverance alongside his paintings. I’m so excited to see that you’ll be posting more! Thank you!
I’m really looking forward to studying Horace Pippin! I’m putting the finishing touches on Bearden now, and Pippin is up next. It does feel so good to learn about their lives while absorbing their work.
And the church says….amen!
Came across this article in the New York Times and it reminded me of your post: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/23/arts/design/black-artists-older-success.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
Thanks for sharing this. I love the article because of the triumph in the stories but also because it gave me a list of new names to research – all people I’ve never heard of.
Have just discovered your blog and love how you express your thoughts, I need this, I need to be challenged to look at the world through lenses other than my own. xx
I’m writing from Australia btw
Welcome! I’m so glad that you found my little corner of the Earth.
So. So. Trilled to have bumped into you…really thankful.
Your words echo what’s been in my heart…and often expressed…over the 20+ yrs I have been educating my children at home…so grateful for your work and invaluable contribution…looking forward to more.
I am so excited about finding your blog! I am a CM homeschooler as well and feel the same way you do. I also created some note booking pages for our artist study of AA artists because I couldn’t find any already done. Please send me your email so that I can send them to you, maybe you can use them. Blessings to and I am your newest subscriber! I have been binge reading your blog.
Yay! I’m so glad you found the blog. Isn’t it so fun to binge read a new blog? I’m always excited when I find something that resonates with me. Thank you for the offer to share the artist info that you’ve put together. Emailing you now 🙂
AWESOME! I am looking forward to your email. Thank you so much for what you are doing to help us that were looking for more diversity within the CM method. I am currently revising everything we were planning to do this year now and your website has been a true blessing.
Amen and amen. Thank you for these resources!
You’re welcome, Candace! I hope you find them useful.
I was googling and came across your article! Thank for the links…I am new to picture study but wanting to diversify off the get go. I’m in a CM FB group that had all sorts of worldwide recos too so excited try to organize (somewhat) & jump in…just wish there were nice packets with mini prints for sale one day with these artists too. Maybe something you could offer one day?
I would LOVE to offer that, but the prints for most of the artist studies I’ve done so far are not in the public domain. I need to figure out if I could have permission to reprint professionally for educational purposes. But yes, it would be great!
I just want to say… I LOVE YOU! We have been dabbling in CM for a few years and I decided to go all in this year, but man has it been a challenge to find resources that embrace color! From book selections that only reflect on slavery or civil rights to just being completely absent in most poetry and art, I’ve been struggling!! I haven’t been able to commit to a picture study because I was just blah and now I know I was waiting for this!!!! And that you have it all planned out!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I seriously think you should maybe put these together and sell them! We need more of this!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!
Oh Audra, your post just made me smile ear to ear! Thank you for being appreciative. It’s exciting to meet others who share my enthusiasm for having these resources available. I wish you the very best in your studies. Be sure to let me know if you have any recommendations for improvement once you’ve had a chance to go through things.
This is so very helpful! Thank you for sharing all these resources. I teach at a CM school that is committed to diversity, so we are always looking for ways to present a “feast of ideas” that represents many cultures and backgrounds!
You’re welcome! I love that you’re seeking out the resources that are best for your students, and I hope to get more picture studies loaded this summer.
Thank you for putting this together!
You’re quite welcome! I hope I can get more of them done soon.
*snap* *snap* *snap*
Planning to homeschool for the first time this coming year and am absolutely in love with Charlotte Mason philosophy; however, it’s a very white-centric curriculum and I’m looking to incorporate some BIPOC studies. My eldest is in 1st grade though, so not sure where to really start. I’m bookmarking these to come back to FOR SURE.
thank you so much!
Welcome to homeschooling, Laila! Definitely check out my post on early elementary books – lots of great ideas for getting started. You can absolutely have both – a Charlotte Mason education AND amazingly rich BIPOC studies. Stay tuned…I have a post coming out next week about this very thing.
I am planning our first picture studies and I feel like I struck gold with finding this page. THANK YOU! This is wonderful. Keep up the great work!
Yay! I’m so glad that you’ve found something you can use. That’s what this space is all about. Thank you, and I will 🙂
Thank you for posting this! My husband recently introduced me to Henry Ossawa Tanner and I am smitten with his work! I am so excited to discover these other artist and bring them into our homeschool.
You’re welcome. His work is beautiful. I had a hard time narrowing down the pictures for a single term.
This hashtag is it! I haven’t really realized until recently!
I just sat down to put my own list together for this year, from the very little that I know, then remembered you and you had just the post. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I’m glad you remembered! I’m working on a few more Heritage Packs, and after that my next project will be to build out a few more picture studies. Woohoo!
Over the past few months I have been blessed by your posts (here and IG), thoughtfulness, loving attitude towards other people no matter what, and your hard work in sharing your resources, time and talents.
Now, as I’m getting ready for the next term, the lack of diversity in composers stood out to me and I remembered to look over here for some ideas. You are a bridge right now for many with your truth and grace. Well done sister: Thanks for sharing that with me.
Thank you so much for this encouragement. “Words of affirmation” is my primary love language so it really does fill me up when I hear that one of my sisters has found something useful or encouraging here.
Hi! Thank you so much for compiling this list. We are about to homeschool and I was searching all over for picture studies for AA artists! I just listened to Titus Kaphar’s Ted Talk and was so inspired. While I’m gathering multicultural novels to do unit studies, I am stoked to add these resources into our day. Thanks again!
You’re welcome. I really need to get back to completing the additional studies listed. Hopefully I can do another one on our next school break. I haven’t seen his TED Talk, but you’ve piqued my interest. I’ll have to check it out!
“ If my children walk away from the table thinking that black people and women haven’t contributed anything worthy of serious study and introspection then shame on me.” I love this! Not just black people and women, though. Really ANY people group. God has created so many talented people in every nation, tribe and tongue. We should celebrate ALL of our beautiful humanity. To be frank, though, CM might have if such things were available to her during that time. Anyway, I’ve always tried to follow the “spirit” of the CM method, rather than the “law.” Again, thank you for your wonderful thoughts. 😊💕
I agree! I think we have to do what we know is right and makes sense today. We can infuse her philosophy and “way” of doing things with the books and voices we know to include. And you’re welcome!
Hi, Amber! I just wanna say thank you for this and for all that you’re doing. You’ve been a huge blessing! Hugs all the way from the Philippines! 🙂
You’re so welcome! The picture study posts were some of my favorite to put together. I’m looking forward to adding some new ones soon!
Thank you so much!
You’re so welcome, Bonnie! I hope to add some additional artists soon.
This is so great! Thank you! I am NOT a CM purist but really love the idea of picture/music study as I am woefully ignorant in those areas and want better for my kids but also want diversity. Tha ks so much for sharing your hard work!
You’re welcome! I’ve found that many families who don’t even do CM at all are still using the picture studies, and I think that’s 100% wonderful. Enjoy!
I just discovered your page today and it is breathing new life into our homeschool! Thank you so much for your heart to bring God given diversity to the homeschool world. It is so NEEDED! All of the resources you posted here are beyond helpful and will be a blessing to my kids and I. Thank you, thank you, thank you
You are so very welcome! It warms my heart to hear you say this, and I hope to be sharing more and more resources over time.
Thank you so much for the work you are doing!!! As I try to integrate more diverse perspectives into our homeschool, I always check your site to see your recommendations. I came hoping for picture study resources on Robert S. Duncanson… I see him on your list, but alas no links yet! I have only started my research, but already there are too many interesting pictures to choose from lol! You are doing such important work and I am grateful!
You’re so welcome! Please send me your favorite Duncanson resources once you’ve had a chance to see what your family enjoys most. I’d love to get moving on that post!
I am so very thankful for what you have done here. Thank you!!
You’re very welcome. I’m really pleased that you’re able to to use some of it!