← Hotbox 2021

Elexus Pettigrew

This piece is about the perception and stereotypes on cultural items within the black community that are derived from TV, Movies, News outlets and our long awaited history of oppression. This idea came from my art focus on media consumption and the stereotyped ideas on different cultures as told from the media based from ignorance.

This project will be an ongoing project for the next 2-3 weeks of myself going out in public with a sign that says, “What is A Du-rag?”, I would be standing around being followed with a camera where I ask strangers about different black household items. I will go about asking each individual what they know or didn’t know about the particular piece and if there’s any internalized racism/ Stereotype ideas surrounding these items. It’s a experience for myself and others to learn and become aware of what we know or think about the black community. 

For example, with the du-rag I would present and ask questions such as: Have you seen this item before? What do you know about the du-rag? Do you know what cultural background it belongs to or do you feel it belongs to that cultural background? What purpose does it serve? Do you think this is cultural appropriated?  Do you know the history of the du-rag?

After conducting interviews, I want to take away and not focus too much on the questions but rather the responses and how natural the conversation flows. More so, not looking for simple answers but understanding what is being said and the way a connection  is being built. In doing so, I was hoping to raise awareness for those I spoke with. In some of these conversations, I’ve learned a lot about myself while engaging with  different backgrounds about the du-rag and how they and I felt about it. I wouldn’t say I’ve changed my views but they have been adjusted in a way that’s transformable. Leaving with them and myself with a new approach and take on things we deemed universal or belonging to one cultural when we are all apart of this human experience to love and grow together.