Begin this activity by engaging in a brief discussion with students. Ask students to brainstorm and share how during difficult times in their lives they have been able to resist or push through on their own or through the support of their family, friends or community members.
Make a connection for students between their responses and some of the ways that many African Americans had to determine how to resist or push through while the Black Codes were in place keeping in mind their own safety as well as that of their family, friends and community members. Responses may include:
- Organized responses-Conventions, Meetings
- Outreach-Publications or Speeches
- Civic Participation (when able)- voting, political participation
- Community Connection & Pride-Church, the Arts
Introduce students to artist Henry Ossawa Tanner, born in 1859, who was able to use his Art to positively represent the African American community. Provide an overview of Tanner using a resource of your choosing or by reading aloud the following brief overview:
Henry Ossawa Tanner was an influential African American artist known for his paintings and contributions to American art history. Born on June 21, 1859, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tanner showed early talent in art and pursued his passion despite facing racial barriers. Tanner’s artistic journey took him to Philadelphia and later to Paris, France, where he studied at renowned art schools. His time in Europe allowed him to develop his unique style, often focusing on religious and everyday scenes with a profound sense of light and atmosphere. Although Tanner eventually lived outside of the United States and largely completed his series on African American daily life in the late 1890s his experiences growing up through the end of the Civil War, the Black Codes and the later Jim Crow laws gave him a unique insight into the challenges facing African Americans on a daily basis. Henry Ossawa Tanner’s legacy extends beyond his artistry and his images provide a contrast to the negative depictions of African Americans and create a sense of cultural pride in the African American community. Throughout his career, Tanner broke barriers as one of the first African American artists to achieve widespread success and his works continue to be celebrated for their emotional depth, technical skill, and spiritual themes.
As a whole group or in smaller groups sharing share two images by artist Henry Ossawa Tanner:
- The Thankful Poor
- The Banjo Lesson
Ask students to think, pair and share responses to the following prompts:
- Who and what do you see in this painting?
- How are the people depicted?
- How does the depiction align or contrast with the societal views of African Americans between 1865-1900?
- What emotions or reactions may the artist have intended to evoke from viewers with these representations of daily life?
- In what ways could this painting be considered an act of resistance? How might people resist in similar ways in the present day?