Black August - Los Angeles #3 Drawing by Donald C-Note Hooker

Black August - Los Angeles #3

by Donald C-Note Hooker

Canvas Print

Framed Print

Art Print

Poster

Metal Print

Acrylic Print

Wood Print

Greeting Card

Title

Black August - Los Angeles #3

Artist

Donald C-Note Hooker

Medium

Drawing - Ink On Paper

Description

Have you heard of the month long Holiday in August called Black August?

Started in the 1970s by Black prisoners in San Quentin as a remembrance due to the state sanctioned killing of prisoners for demanding Humane treatment. It has long since been internationally recognized, Black August (commemoration) | Wikipedia

Black August-Los Angeles is an original work of ink on paper. Done by Donald “C-Note” Hooker in 2016. This piece was inspired by the month long Black August celebrations that were taking place in Los Angeles in 2016. He first heard of these celebrations on Think Outside the Cage.

This was the artist first attempt at Political Art. It makes reference to Beyonce’s Formation; the death of prisoners, and prison reform activists, George Jackson, and Hugo “Yogi” Pinell. Both men were murdered in prison. Police shooting death victims, Michael Brown, and Ezell Ford. These kind of deaths have reawakened America’s consciousness on it’s criminal justice system, thus prison reform. The California Coalition of Women Prisoners (CCWP), so that the public doesn’t forget we imprison women too. The Los Angeles Women’s Center, to bring public consciousness, and hopefully funding, to a place that provides services and refuge to women, most likely from the same environmental milieu as those who have been, or will become imprisoned. The Raised Fist, a symbol of Black Power during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Now a symbol of empowerment during any struggle. And “Mundo Sin Jaulas” (A World Without Cages), in recognition of the Brown People’s Movement.

Black August - Los Angeles is the Premier Black August artwork to come out of the city of Los Angeles. SEE, Black August (commemoration) | Wikipedia

FUN FACTS:

In late August of 2022, the 52-year-old African American publication Black Enterprise pronounced:

"Black August is becoming recognized as the alternative to Black History Month thanks to a growing movement aimed at honoring the revolutionary thought leaders and freedom fighters of the past and present."

Black August Uplifted as Alternative Black History Month to Celebrate Freedom Fighters | Black Enterprise

In 2017, Black August - Los Angeles was personally handed over to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles as a gift to Sister Mary Hodges founder of the Partnership of Reentry Program (PREP) for a joint art show with Homeboy Industries, founded by Father Gregory Boyle. PREP and Homeboy Industries are restorative justice ministries of the Archdiocese of Los angeles.

Black August - Los Angeles is listed in Wikimedia Commons's extensive Library as one of only 12 artworks in it's Black Cultural Archives.