In response to recent shootings of African Americans, Betye Saar has revived her iconic Aunt Jemima imagery to create new work that continues to undermine racist stereotypes from U.S. culture. Mounted on a washboard signifying a history of labor performed by African American women, this Aunt Jemima character totes a broom and a gun under the slogan ‘Extreme Times Call for Extreme Heroines.’ (On view in ‘Betye Saar: Keepin’ it Clean’ at the New York Historical Society through May 27th).
