Jacob Lawrence And The Migration of the Negro

Jacob Lawrence And The Migration of the Negro What makes Jacob Lawrence’s artwork powerful is that it is a voice of Black people and offers a complete view of the African American experience. It goes without saying that Mr. Lawrence presents the lives of his people through highly skilled paintings and artistry, yet he is not only a painter. Because of the material and manner in which Jacob Lawrence paints, he is an activist, …

…America is always trying to better his condition and the condition of his children. However the series shows that conditions that they met in the North were similar to those that they had known in the South.” (Nesbett & Dubois, pg. 131) Lawrence’s painting conveys the thought that life does not always offer the best situations. Jacob Lawrence gives a philosophy through “Race Riots,” and it is the viewer’s decision how to use the philosophy.