December 7th - Remember!! 1943

Charles Alston made this black and white drawing to memorialize the attack on Pearl Harbor. The starkness of the monochrome palette creates an immediate sense of gravity and urgency. You know, it's like, no frills, just straight to the point. Look at how Alston uses these dense, energetic lines to depict the chaos of war. The way he layers the marks, especially around the sinking ship, it’s not just about showing us what happened, but also making us feel the weight of it. The texture is all in these frantic, almost scribbled lines, which contrast with the smoother areas to create an uneven surface that feels emotionally charged. Alston makes me think of Jacob Lawrence. Both artists use their work to tell stories about black experiences in American history. What connects them is how they capture collective memory through bold, graphic forms. Art isn't just about showing something, it's about making something happen inside of us.