Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

How Carrie Mae Weems Uses Art, Photography, Stark Facts to Reduce COVID in Communities of Color

syr.edu

Renowned artist and photographer Carrie Mae Weems is heading up an awareness campaign to focus on the disproportionate impact COVID  19 is having on Black, Brown and Native American Communities.  Thursday, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh issued a proclamation honoring her and the project.

He notes inequality leads to health problems in communities of color … and the pandemic is making that all too clear.

“It has shined a very bright light on the systemic issues that have impacted a number of marginalized communities, particularly communities of color – systemic racism, inequality.  Those systemic problems have shown themselves in a very specific way during this pandemic.”

Credit resistcovidtake6.org
The project, Resist COVID Take Six combined art, photography and dire statistics of how the pandemic is affecting communities of color.

Weems’ project brings to light these inequities and focuses on healthy behaviors among Black, Brown and Native people. 

Utilizing her artistic photography, one billboard and poster says ‘A little Distance Goes A Long Way’, while showing people close enough to spread virus.  Another has a soft-focused picture of a Black man with the message, ‘Sadly, Your Most Impacted by COVID 19.’    It relates statistics showing how deadly the virus has bee on people of color:

  • Atlanta 80% of Deaths
  • Chicago 72%
  • Illinois 58%
  • Louisiana 70%
  • Michigan 41%
  • New York 23%
  • Wisconsin 73%

Weems argues inequity across society leads to other injustices as well.
“This health care crisis is also linked to escalating violence that is ricocheting unfortunately through our community.  They are all linked; in that connection is where we really find the depths of inequity and therefore, where we have to focus our attention.”

Credit syr.edu
Mayor Walsh declared Thursday Carrie Mae Weems day with a proclamation honoring the Resist COVID Take 6 project and her artistic accomplishments

Weems project, Resist COVID: Take Six, includes materials to distribute within communities of color.  And now she’s looking for help from the community to have an impact.

“The thing I need from all of you the most is getting this important information into the hands of the people who need it.  It doesn’t mean anything if it simply sits on a billboard.  We’ve developed shopping bags, church fans, … buttons and bows, all those things to get to the people who need them.” 

She invites collaborations with other groups to help distribute the various items.  

Weems is Artist in Residence at Syracuse University.  She involved many other artists and the project has drawn attention in Harlem, Dallas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and other cities. 

Credit resistcovidtake6.org
The Resist COVID campaign emphasizes six behaviors Carrie Mae Weems is trying to spread in Black, Brown and native American communities

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.