BLM / Pride Sign
Date2020
Credit LineGift of Madeleine Say, London, Ontario, 2021.
Object number2021.010.001
Label TextLondoner, Madeleine Say, was among 10,000 Londoners who converged on Victoria Park on June 6, 2020, to express their outrage at the May 25 killing of Minnesotan George Floyd at the hands of police. Madeleine Say crafted the sign on offer and carried it during the rally. The June 6 rally, organized by five young London women, was one of the largest rallies/demonstrations that London has ever seen. It was part of a global effort to call for racial equality for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour around the world, including here in London and across Canada.
About her sign, Madeleine wrote, “As a member of the queer community, I chose to create this sign for its symbolism of the LGBTQ+ movement and how we, as a community, have Black trans activists to thank for the liberation and revolution of queer rights.
I chose to incorporate the Pride and Trans flag colours in this piece as we marched in June during the 50th anniversary of Pride Month.
The LGBTQ+ community is represented by the 6 colours of the 1979 Pride flag: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (serenity), and purple (spirit).
Behind the Black Power fist I have the colours of the Trans flag as a tribute to Black trans activists, such as Martha P. Johnson, who were the backbone and driving force behind the LGBTQ+ liberation movement.
The Trans community is represented by the 3 colours of the 1999 Trans flag: blue, pink, and white. Blue represents those who are male identifying, pink represents those who are female identifying, and white represents those who are transitioning or have a non-binary identity.
At the center and focal point of my sign I have the Black Power fist, comprised of various shades of black, brown and white to represent the diverse racial identity of those standing in support of the BIPOC community.
The Black Power fist has a long history but was most notably used by the Black Panther Party (est. 1966) to challenge police brutality against the African American community. I thought it important to include such an integral symbol of Black liberation.
The experience of this event was incredibly eye-opening to me. It was humbling and energizing to see the overwhelming support for the BIPOC community in London, while also hearing from members of the BIPOC community about their experience of racism and oppression within our community and systems. It was a stark reminder of how far we have to go but also of the strength and power of change we have as a community.
10,000 Londoners converged on Victoria Park on June 6, 2020, to express their outrage at the May 25 killing of Minnesotan George Floyd at the hands of police. Many crafted signs to carry during the rally.
NameSign
CopyrightPhoto Credit: Toni Hafkenscheid
