Did you guys catch a glimpse of this stunning artwork on Google’s home page yesterday? Well, the painting is called “My Afrocentric Life” and the artist is 15-year-old Akilah Johnson of Washington, D.C.! Johnson’s artwork was chosen from among 100,000 recipients making her the first African American as well as the first D.C. native to win the contest!!
When she was asked what inspired the piece, which includes names like Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and more, Johnson said, “One of my teachers from Roots, Baba Camera, is really what made me look at art in a different way. As I grew older, I had realized that the Black people that came before us has made us into what we are today, so of course I had to include them in some way.”
As the winner of the contest, Johnson will be awarded a $30,000 college scholarship. In addition to that, her school will receive a $50,000 Google for Education Grant.
Congratulations, Akilah!
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!
Source: https://m.facebook.com/becauseofthemwecan/photos/a.165962343453659.38563.164638963585997/973236322726253/?type=3&source=48
