One strong example of a New York based social justice artist is Kara Walker, whose work directly confronts the history of racism, slavery, and the representation of Black bodies in America. Her most popular art piece is called “A Subtlety”, made in 2014, at the abandoned Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn. This installation featured a massive, 35 foot tall, sphinx like figure covered in white sugar representing both the purity associated with sugar and the exploitation behind the sugar industry. Around the room, there were smaller sculptures of children carrying baskets, their forms melting and collapsing from the heat, symbolizing the brutal labor of enslaved people who helped build the wealth of industries like sugar production. She used the entire factory space as part of the message, the sticky smell, the decaying walls, and the sugar dust in the air, all reminded the viewers that history isn’t distant, it’s something you can still feel. Her installation was a way for people to confront the connection between consumer goods, racism and the bodies that paid the price for them. Walker uses her art as a way to expose the realities that are usually hidden or softened in textbooks and museums. Her art exposes reality with raw honesty that refuses to be softened or simplified.

Food trucks are a big part of NYC culture and in my opinion, a true icon. These food trucks have been around since forever and although people usually don’t stop to think twice about these trucks, it is a part of New York’s history. You can find foods from all types of cultures and varieties at these trucks, and not only that but they are literally everywhere around the city. So easy to access and very accessible as most prices are affordable, also if you’re in a rush they are very quick too!

This exhibit caught my eye because I have my own pair of Ugg’s that look similar to these. The Tasman Onia by Superfine makes a bold statement at the Met, blending cozy craftsmanship with high fashion. Its sculptural silhouette and materials turn the classic slipper into an iconic fashion statement. This specific piece is very popular and seen in many different outfits all around the world.

This part of the Afro-futurist room caught my eye because it looks like a spice cabinet. It doesn’t just hold one object to signify its message but instead a variety of little bottles that have herbs in them, made by the experimentalists of Seneca Village. These vibrant ceramics celebrate creativity and Black-American identity.