In 2011, I began designing graphic T-shirts that focused on socially conscious issues. Prior to the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt, I developed visuals for a shirt called "Laissez-Faire," inspired by the French Revolution’s concept of free market participation. This idea stuck with me from my high school history class. I created a protest collection featuring figures in military-style formations, their facial expressions conveying discontent with the status quo.
One of these shirts was later featured in a short documentary I developed about the Occupy protests in Oakland. I interviewed activists, protesters, artists, and other conscious individuals who had gathered in resistance. At the end of each interview, I handed them a "Laissez-Faire" shirt, symbolizing the role of art within social movements—much like how the Black Panther Party in Oakland used propaganda to highlight their distrust of the imperialistic nature of police officers who occupied Black communities as if they were foreign territories.
Fast forward to yesterday, when I witnessed Kendrick Lamar perform during the NFL halftime show. Not only was it one of the best performances in NFL history, but it also highlighted the ongoing cultural struggle for reconciliation, restitution, and reparation for America's original sin. During the performance, Kendrick Lamar declared, "This is bigger than music, it’s about those 40 acres and a mule." This statement embodied the essence of socially conscious artistry—where the artist not only understands the role of art in revolution but also serves as an agent of change within the culture.
In 2011, while attending Sacramento State University, I learned that Kendrick Lamar would be performing in Sacramento. A local artist collective, Project 4 Trees, was set to open for him, and since I had collaborated with them before, they invited me to share their vendor table to showcase my wearable art. I jumped at the opportunity. After the show, I took one of my T-shirts to the stage, hoping to hand it directly to Kendrick Lamar as a token of respect and admiration. However, security stopped me, stating that I did not have clearance to go beyond that point. Fortunately, a member of Kendrick’s entourage overheard the conversation and said, "Just give me the shirt—I’ll make sure he gets it." Without hesitation, I handed over the shirt and walked away.
The next morning, my sister sent me a picture of a Sacramento State student-athlete standing next to Kendrick Lamar—who was wearing my T-shirt. Out of all the shirts given to him that night, he chose mine. A few days later, a high school friend called to tell me he had seen Kendrick wearing my shirt in an interview. He even sent me the footage. This moment was significant because, while I stood in front of security, I had noticed several brands passing stacks of their clothing lines to Kendrick’s entourage, hoping for exposure. But Kendrick instinctively understood the relevance of the message on my shirt. He consciously chose to wear it, reinforcing the idea that art has a role in revolution and cultural expression.
Below, I want to include the video from the Occupy Oakland protest in 2011, where local inner-city communities across the country took to the streets to protest Wall Street’s exploitation of everyday people. The status quo had become parasitic, with financial tycoons feeding off working-class struggles to maintain their wealth. This environment gave birth to the art that reflected the times. The momentum of that movement still resonates today as we continue the struggle while cultivating a culture of solidarity.
Yesterday’s halftime show by Kendrick Lamar demonstrated that same culture of solidarity on a national stage. This type of art reminds us that music is meant to inspire higher states of consciousness, compelling us to address the social needs of the voiceless.
- Create Society
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