brooklyn-based artist makeela b. amani: uncle sam’s deadly touch

Powerful artwork forces people from all walks of life to gravitate to it. So, what makes artwork eligible to be considered powerful you ask? It’s when the art pushes boundaries, and becomes limitless- surpassing all standards and political, social, conventional beliefs. Ultimately being and honest reflection of the artist. Whenever the topic of race is involved, the conversation immediately becomes intense- igniting wondrous conversation fueled by passionate opinions. Artist/AFROPUNK community member Makeela B. Amani is doing just that by stirring up great conversation in her depictions of America’s and Afro people’s relationship- which seems to be omnipresent. Imagine, Uncle Sam tugging at your face while trying to suck the very life out of you? It can’t be so!

By Tip Jordan, AFROPUNK Contributor *

Not only does Makeela create social commentary pieces, she is seasoned in creating beautiful representations of intimacy, and respecting other ancient cultures like the Native Tribes of the world.

View more of Makeela B. Amani’s artwork here.

Here’s a poem that I (Tip Jordan) wrote to the two Uncle Sam pieces featured in this article:

“Time Travel”

Hands gripped tightly over my eyes to prevent provision,
The aura of an ill mind pollutes centuries,
guilty of the next four hundred generation’s lynching.
And still my blood spills in the oceans,
The stench remains whistling,
seeking for an ear to hear and shift the worlds positioning.

Uncle Sam is who I fear?
Or does he fear me?
I managed to unravel myself from within his web,
grand exit I foreseen.
My strength has multiplied,
Yet I’m no giant.
Ships once acted as a hurst,
hoping that our sellers defied it.
Now to the present time of what has become,
Uncle Sam claims to have adopted me,
but I was never born to him, as a daughter or son.

* Tip Jordan’s website: tipjordan.com