Kimberly Drew’s book ‘What I know About Art’, showed us that we go through times that some people might overlook, but there are others. Other individuals that can’t push it to the side, so they stand up, spreading awareness on a certain matter or a subject. Kimberly shows us this towards the end of her book, when she was disturbed by the leaked new footage of Mr. Michael Brown (may he rest in peace) horrifying death, that lead to her leaving her work site in a bombshell; crying and was confused as soon as she noticed that everyone outside was going on with their day like nothing happened “I looked around and it was still just a regular Saturday for everyone else” she said. These Individuals like her are considered activists bringing attention to a matter while others are just blindly ignoring it. However, activism can be established in multiple ways. Therefore, Kimberly inspires the act of activism by acknowledging colored artists’ work and spreading them on social media including her Instagram and her blog, where they have more of a chance of being noticed or heard. It is not easy to spread your content when it’s you against the world. Nevertheless, Kimberly also understands that there are a lot of Colored artists overlooked because of their current situation but Drew decides to present their work not only as it is but explaining and complementing the meaning or the essence of their work. I was immediately addicted to her autobiographical story as she starts her book with a word so simple yet so empowering. The word is “progressing”. She uses this word throughout the beginning of her book to show that as she failed, she only gained knowledge from it by giving her other doors that can only push her closer to becoming the activist she is now. However, growing into it, she wasn’t always interested in art, she was a former math major. Yet she felt like a “Fraud” she stated. when she was selected to be in the art program at the studio Museum. Meanwhile, she winds up being employed by that Museum later in her life. This personally relates to me, because she had a trait that is commonly obtained by most of us, which is ignorance to opportunity. She was mentally preparing herself for failure, yet she was going from an unpaid internship at this amazing museum to have a paid job there. I developed 3 memes about explaining the importance of the meaning behind pictures. Yet voluntarily Kimberly decides to point out these pictures and admire their beauty to the public. This has built her a fan base and a crew that helps her keep track with her Blog, while she handles the rest of her social media.
Through her work, I was inspired. I was inspired to be left, wondering what my inspiration could be if I was later to be a fellow activist. I don’t want to avoid such a possibility even if it is farfetched, because even though she has done this blog on her own time voluntarily, she still developed fans that she inspired like me to start an activism act of their own. Activism means to me as of now is an act that can leave an impact and could help spread awareness not only to point out a cause, but to inspire others to point out their own cause and push them to chase after all their dreams and hopes instead of others who doubt them Selfs, as Kimberly did when she claimed she was a ‘fraud’ before knowing what was in her future. Through that, she taught me that, even if you believe all odds are against you, finish what you’ve started. Since you never lost until you give up, and she never gave up. Her blog went from something too small to something that reached media gaining attention, followed by interviews, such as being interviewed by this local blog “The Huffington". Consequently, I wish to start my own foundation one day, but not a foundation to only give to the poor, but to give an opportunity to those who are willing to accept a challenge, to accept this opportunity even if failure is almost a certain possibility. I want to use this foundation to equally spread awareness to our upcoming future leaders. Having someone to give them a chance is more than I could as for, since not many people are willing to give back to this world. A world full of greed and envy. Thus, we can’t rid the world of them, but I can at least try to set my cause to be more empowering, louder, and piercing than them all. Having the turned tables caused by Kimberly’s actions in her life that benefited her in the long run; such as failing, only pushed her to “progress” and bloom into a better version of herself.
Through her work, I was inspired. I was inspired to be left, wondering what my inspiration could be if I was later to be a fellow activist. I don’t want to avoid such a possibility even if it is farfetched, because even though she has done this blog on her own time voluntarily, she still developed fans that she inspired like me to start an activism act of their own. Activism means to me as of now is an act that can leave an impact and could help spread awareness not only to point out a cause, but to inspire others to point out their own cause and push them to chase after all their dreams and hopes instead of others who doubt them Selfs, as Kimberly did when she claimed she was a ‘fraud’ before knowing what was in her future. Through that, she taught me that, even if you believe all odds are against you, finish what you’ve started. Since you never lost until you give up, and she never gave up. Her blog went from something too small to something that reached media gaining attention, followed by interviews, such as being interviewed by this local blog “The Huffington". Consequently, I wish to start my own foundation one day, but not a foundation to only give to the poor, but to give an opportunity to those who are willing to accept a challenge, to accept this opportunity even if failure is almost a certain possibility. I want to use this foundation to equally spread awareness to our upcoming future leaders. Having someone to give them a chance is more than I could as for, since not many people are willing to give back to this world. A world full of greed and envy. Thus, we can’t rid the world of them, but I can at least try to set my cause to be more empowering, louder, and piercing than them all. Having the turned tables caused by Kimberly’s actions in her life that benefited her in the long run; such as failing, only pushed her to “progress” and bloom into a better version of herself.
Work Cited
Drew, Kimberly. This Is What I Know About Art. Penguin Workshop, 2020.
Sontag, Susan. On Photography. New York Review of Books, 1977.
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