Mixed media sculpture
Altered antique prayer kneeler, turf, Ghana cloth, reconstruction era "whites only" iron sign, lumber
3'H x 4'W x 4'D
2022

Take a Knee challenges the disparities regarding rights and privileges afforded to different racial groups, examining the history of exploitation of Black bodies in sports, a topic of significant interest to me since hearing stories of my father growing up with Muhammed Ali. It connects those stories specifically to Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful protest of kneeling during the national anthem and posits that gesture in stark contrast to the supreme court ruling in favor Coach Kennedy’s right to kneel in prayer. This sculpture also conjures WNBA star and 2-time Olympic medalist, Brittney Griner, sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison for possession of less than one gram of medically prescribed hash oil. The upholstery on this found prayer kneeler has been replaced with Ghana cloth, the traditional textile of my ancestors and embedded in the kneeler is a found, iron, reconstruction era “white only” sign. The sculpture rests on Astro turf.