Fighters for Freedom - by Lonnie G Bunch III & Virginia Mecklenburg (Paperback)

About the Book

"William H. Johnson painted his Fighters for Freedom series in the mid-1940s as a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international leaders. "Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice" presents colorful and engaging portraits of figures like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Booker T. Washington, highlighting their achievements and underscoring the nation's struggle for freedom and equality. About thirty entries complement Johnson's artworks from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's touring exhibition. Related items from around the Smithsonian, such as Marian Anderson's concert dress and Nat Turner's bible, provide more insight to these real-life heroes. In his preface, Lonnie Bunch, a historian and the first African American leader of the Smithsonian, traces the nation's arc toward greater liberty. An introduction by curator Virginia Mecklenburg describes the life and work of artist William H. Johnson. The catalogue entries detail the varied accomplishments of the activists in Johnson's powerful painting series"--

Book Synopsis

First book to celebrate painter William H. Johnson's Fighters for Freedom series, a tribute to African American heroes who worked to achieve social justice. William H. Johnson painted his Fighters for Freedom series in the mid-1940s as a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international heads of state working to bring peace to the world. He celebrated their accomplishments even as he acknowledged the realities of racism, violence, and oppression they faced and overcame. Some of his Fighters -- Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Marian Anderson, and Mohandas Gandhi -- are familiar historical figures; others are less well-known individuals whose determination and sacrifice have been eclipsed over time. Johnson elevates their lives visually, offering historical insights and fresh perspectives. Through their stories he suggests that the pursuit of freedom is an ongoing, interconnected struggle, with moments of both triumph and tragedy, and he invites us to reflect on our own struggles for justice today. In Fighters for Freedom Johnson reminds us that individual achievement and commitment to social justice are at the heart of the American story.

About the Author

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, a position he assumed in June 2019. Previously, Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Virginia Mecklenburg is senior curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.