AXE 3: Art and Power

Black Art Matters

YOUR PROJECT :
Choose a work of art and imagine the post of a Black Lives Matter activist, explaining why it
is important to support the movement and push for change.

WORD CHALLENGE
Use as many of these words as possible throughout the unit. Tick the box when you have used the
word.

□ (be) prejudiced against (adj) □ discriminate against (v.) □ prejudice (n.)

□ bias (n.) □ discrimination (n.) □ pride/dignity (n.)
□ brutality (n.) □ empower (v.) □ protest song (n.)
□ celebrate (v.) □ look down on # look up to (v.) □ racism (n.)
□ degrading (adj.) □ painting (n.) □ rise up for (v.)
□ demonstrate (v.) □ piece of art = work of art (n.) □ target (n. / v .)
□ denounce (v .) □ portray □ trauma (n. )

BEFORE CLASS !

A. Watch the video and write what you have understood.

www.lienmini.fr/htr7-u701 (0’11 to 1’20/ 1’45 to 2’27)

a. Principles/ideology :
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b. Symbols :
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c. Actions :
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B. True or False ? Tick the right answer and justify with an element from the video.

a. The white costume has always been the only symbol of the KKK.

T□ F□

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b. The KKK has established connections with other hate groups in America.

T□ F□
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EXPRESSING THE TRAUMA OF RACISM

1 Singing the pain away
A. React to Lloyd G. Wade’s painting, inspired by the song Strange Fruit. (p. 78)

a. Identify the characters and their environment. Say what strikes you about the painting,
using the following words :

hang from (être pendu (e) à qqc)/ curled up (recroquevillé(e)) , braids/plaits (tresses)
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b. Guess what the singer’s song could be about. Justify your answer with elements from the
painting.

B. Listen to the protest song online and read the lyrics.

Southern trees bear a strange fruit

Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South

The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck

For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

Billie Holliday (1939)/ Music and lyrics by Lewis Allan

Voc : root=racine/pastoral= rural/bulging= exorbités/scent= smell/crows= corbeaux/pluck= picorer/rot=

pourrir/crop= récolte

C.
a. Underline the references to the place where the song is set.
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b. Highlight the words/images describing the « strange fruit » and identify what the fruit is.
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c. What feelings does the song express ? Use two words of your choice. Justify with quotations.

fury/sadness/kindness/pain/disgust/compassion/bravery/surprise

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D. Pair work : Do you think that the painting is agood illustration for the song ? Why (not) ?

2. A Tale of Two Hoodies (p. 79)

A. React to the painting. Identify the symbols and the contrasts between the characters’
clothes and attitudes.
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B. Find a link with recent US history.

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C. Identify the artist’s intention and give your opinion about it.
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3. Group debate
Is some form of exaggeration necessary to make people react ? (groups of 4/ 2 for/ 2 against)

BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST ART

1. The need for a movement

www.lienmini.fr/htr7-u702

A. Watch the video and gather information about Black Lives Matter.

a. Focus on the reasons for the movement.

 1. Fill in the blanks : « The same scenes ………. apart ! » What kind of scenes is she talking
about ?
2. Pick out the 4 words she uses to describe this recurrent situation :
3. Pick out the different dates given in the video.
4. Pick out what is said about the other Black men wrongly accused and/or killed by police
officers or other people.

b. Pick out what is said about George Floyd and the circumstances of his death :
1. age :
2. family :
3. date when he was killed :
4. circumstances of his arrest and death :

c. Pick out other examples of racist murders.

d. Pick out some information about the history of segregation in the US :

B. Create a timeline of the major events in recent African-American history, from segregation to
George Floyd’s death.

2. The call for change in the press.

A. React to the original oil painting by American artist Kadir Nelson on the cover of Rolling
Stone magazine after the killing of George Floyd (2020). What strikes you about the structure
of the illustration and the characters’ postures ?
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B. In groups, share your interpretation of the artist’s message.

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C. Find an alternative title for this work of art. Justify your choice.
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3. When a whole system needs to change. (p. 81)

A. Look at the cartoons and react to the representation of the justice system.

Focus on the characteristics of the two monuments. What strikes you ?

B. Draw a parallel between the characters’ thoughts and the Black lives Matter movement.
C. What common point can you see between the cartoons ?

D. Group work. Which cartoon better represents the subject, according to you ? Justify your
choice.

4. Taking art to the street

A. Watch the video and take notes to collect as much information as you can.

www.lienmini.fr/htr7-u703

Title of the piece : « Black Lives Matter Mural Unveiled in Brooklyn ».

B. Write a 100-word article describing the artistic event.

3. Victims no more
1. Afrofuturism (p. 82)

A. Read the article and highlight the characteristics which make the film Black Panther
special.
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B. Underline the elements describing Afrofuturism then explain why the film is Afrofuturistic.
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C. Group work. Look at the poster and watch the scene. Study the elements from
Afrofuturism in the representation of Black culture in Black panther. How does the film
represent the future of Black culture ?

Video : www.lienmini.fr/htr7-u704

3. A musical celebration of Blackness. (p. 83)

A. Read the text describing Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s music video.

a. Highlight the elements describing the place where the video clip was shot.

b. Underline the elements referring to the couple.

B. Go online and watch the video clip. Focus on the representation of the couple and Black
culture and identify the goal of this project.
YOUR PROJECT
Choose a Black American work of art (cinema, painting, music, street art….) and imagine the
post of a Black Lives matter activist, explaining why the piece is important to support the
movement and talk people into change (120 words). Do some research if necessary.

RULE THE GRAMMAR !

La voix passive (p. 86)

LANGUAGE LAB

1. Rewrite the sentences using the passive voice.

A. Spike Lee directed BlacKkKlansman in 2018.

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B. The death of George Floyd sparked the revival of the BLM movement.
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C. The BLM movement has changed America.
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D. A street artist painted a mural to pay tribute to George Floyd.
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E. The police shooting sparked the riot.
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2. Translate the sentences using the passive voice.

A. Les Afro-Américains sont souvent ciblés par les autorités.

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B. Trop d’Afro-Américains sont discriminés injustement.
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C. Le mouvement BLM fut créé par des militants des droits civiques.
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