BLM+

Political poetry

In the summer of 2015, I created this design in an effort to expand the understanding of those who see the phrase "Black Lives Matter" as consisting of only three words. Beneath the surface are many more words that together describe the complex societal structures that shape and support a life. The ones I chose were among the broadest and most important, in my opinion, but there are many others that could be included – it is my hope that those who view this graphic will consider ALL the words that could be in this list, enriching their perception of what makes up any life, and, in particular, "black lives."

Originally, I produced 100 t-shirts with this design and gave them away, leading to requests for many more, which I sold for the cost of materials. I also authorized a school in Brooklyn, as well as some other organizations, to print their own run of shirts. [One friend even had drink cozies custom printed with this design.]

I believe that this graphic still has relevance, so I've made it available for download, to be used by anyone who would like to share its message, respectfully.