Faith Blackstone is a young woman who is on a mission to make social injustice come to an end and doing it in a unique way. Now let’s be clear, she’s aware that she can’t make the change happen overnight, or even on her own, but she’s committed to using her voice and her art to enact change. And when she’s not working to be the change she wants to see, she’s pursuing her dreams in Los Angeles. We caught up with the young activist to see what motivates her and what she’s up to.
How old are you and how long have you been an artist?
I’m 17 and I’ve been an artist ever since I can remember. From markers to crayons to professional tools, I’ve always loved to create.
What prompted you to create the beautiful art that you did in memory of George Floyd?
When I first heard about the death of George Floyd, I was feeling anger and grief. But I also felt hopeless. I knew that police murders of people of color always got excused and slid under the rug. I know what it’s like to be the victim of racial injustice and I wasn’t going to let this be slid under the rug. Making this piece was my emotional outlet to be involved in the protests and marches happening in the city when my parents insisted that I stay home to prevent the risk of contracting Covid.
How do you feel about today’s verdict?
When George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, said that this verdict felt like he could breathe again, I felt that immensely. I especially felt it after I finally left from in front of the TV and let myself realize that the tragedy of what happened to George Floyd did not go unheard and unpunished like so many others before him. It gave me the confidence that ‘this is possible.’ That we can make our voices heard with real change behind it. That we can fight a system that’s built to oppress us and win.
Tell us a little bit about the time you fought to get Black History Month observed in your high school.
I live in a majority white suburban area in Minnesota. So, it wasn’t shocking that my school had no plans to celebrate Black History Month, but it was extremely offensive seeing an entire spirit week be put together for Valentine’s Day instead. I was at my lunch table with a variety of POC classmates when I brought up the strangeness that our school hadn’t even acknowledged BHM when it was already the middle of the month. At that moment, I decided that I was going to march down to the principal’s office and request a meeting with him one on one and invited my tablemates to come with me. It was extremely hurtful to put so much work into making posters that couldn’t even go up on the walls of my own community high school simply because the community wasn’t ready to see black history on their walls. I faced bullying, opposition, targeting on social media, intimidation by older students, and I was constantly fed something other than what I wanted by the staff: My history to be able to be displayed for my community to see and learn from.
You are so incredibly unapologetic and confident at a young age. Tell us about what gives you that strength.
What gives me my strength is the empathy I feel. I can’t stand by and watch something awful or unfair happen in any situation, and I’m always the type of person to say something even when I might face backlash from oppressors. I’m not afraid of what they might say or do because I keep one thing in mind while I fight for what’s right: If you’re being attacked or spit on, it’s because you’re making a difference. It’s because they’re scared to see the racism that’s been rooted in this country that’s kept them so comfy, falling apart in front of them. I don’t back down or get scared by oppressors because I know they’re the ones who’re afraid and fear is what they want you to feel. Perhaps I’m just too stubborn to let them get what they want out of me.
What would you say to other young people who may want to become an activist or speak out against injustice?
Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t fight for your or other’s rights. All it takes is that first step, that first decision to make change. You don’t have to be out there on the front lines being hit with rubber bullets and sprayed in the face with pepper spray in order to make change. You can fight by drawing, inspiring, singing, and so much more. It isn’t just marching on the streets that brings change. It’s the work behind all that. It’s the documents and policies being written, it’s the letters being sent to the politicians, it’s the work of changing the way our society operates. And any one of us can make that difference. All it takes is one person to stand up to give the rest of us the courage to stand with them.
What’s next for you and where can our readers follow & support you (social media, website, etc.)
My next chapter awaits in Hollywood, California, the home I’ve known since I was born. I’ll be attending the Los Angeles Film School to get my hands on some cameras and equipment to study film production. My journey isn’t going to be easy, but it’s where I know I need to go. You can follow me along the way on my Instagram: @faithbelovly or my Facebook with the same name. My website includes a full gallery of all my work forms: www.faithbelovlyarts.com, and my Redbubble shop houses all the prints you see me creating for the fight against injustice.
