Draftsman, printmaker, and painter Charles Wilbert White believed that art could be a force for social change: “Art must be an integral part of the struggle. It can’t simply mirror what’s taking place. It must adapt itself to human needs. It must ally itself with the forces of liberation. The fact is, artists have always been propagandists. I have no use for artists who try to divorce themselves from the struggle.” White’s works primarily focused on showcasing the humanity and beauty of African American culture, creating what he called “images of dignity.”
Source: Museum of Modern Art, the Heritage Gallery
