Jacob Lawrence- STRUGGLE: From the History of the American People

Jacob Lawrence- STRUGGLE: From the History of the American People

On exhibit now until  February 2021 at the Birmingham Museum of Art, is the work of Jacob Lawrence.

 Lawrence's innovative work was to consist of 60 panels depicting the struggles in American history from the American Revolution to World War I. In the end there were 30 panels. Lawrence's abstract, cubist works gives his impression of the "myths" of American history. He includes the contributions of people of color lest they be erased and omitted from history.  

The Library
Jacob Lawrence 1960 

Research was done by the artist at the 135th Street Branch of the New York Public library. Lawrence was constantly in the eye of the FBI because of his social and political views regarding America freedom. 

Margaret Cochran Corbin is portrayed to the left with a pistol in her belt and ready to (wo)man the cannon after her cannoneer husband was mortally wounded.

Representatives of the 13 original colonies debate deeply and profusely on the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution and how it will be executed.  The seven swords represent the seven states ready to ratify the Constitution.  Choosing not to display a  "happily-ever-after" ending Lawrence displays conflict in which enslaved Americans gained neither freedom, citizenship or the right to vote.

The Burr–Hamilton duel is one of the most famous personal conflicts in American history. It was a pistol duel which arose from long-standing personal bitterness and political that developed between the two men over the course of several years. Tension rose with Hamilton's journalistic defamation of Burr's character over a long period of time. (Wikipedia)

President Jefferson encourages explorers Lewis & Clark to treat the Native Americans with mutual respect. Sacajawea (in red), the translator for Lewis & Clark  is reunited with her brother, Shoshone Chief Cameahwait who she has not seen since childhood. Sacajawea's raveling braid indicates the undoing of relations between the Natives and white American oppression.

In 1956 Birmingham, Alabama opened the Booker T. Washington library later renamed the Smithfield Library.

I know this library well, as it was the one I used during my elementary years 1960-?) for much of my schoolwork. Since I lived in the area I could walk to the library. Later my parents bought a set of encyclopedias which cut back on a lot of travel and time doing research. 

Ms. Reba Williams is now head librarian at the Smithfield Library. Scan the code for recommended readings by Ms. Williams.