'Living While Black: Portraits of Everyday Resistance' by Ajuan Mance, Comic Artist and Illustrator
Art Heals All Wounds
02/22/23
•35m
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Today, I’m joined by Ajuan Mance, a visual artist and educator who recently published an illustrated encyclopedia titled, Living While Black: Portraits of Everyday Resistance. The book features around forty illustrations of activities that are perfectly legal, but for which African Americans have been arrested, harassed, or even killed. In our conversation, Ajuan provides some context for why she created this body of work and reflects on stylistic choices, including her decision to portray Black people how she sees them: resilient, loving, and joyful.
There’s a powerful juxtaposition in the formatting of the book. On one side of the page, Ajuan includes colorful illustrations of everyday life, and on the other side, there’s a description of the weighty subject matter. Whether it’s a glare at a high-end supermarket or a not-so-routine traffic stop, Living While Black illuminates stories that don't make the major news cycle, but are so important to understand the daily discrimination that Black people endure for simply existing. Ajuan also highlights some of her personal takeaways from the illustration process. The scope and age range of Black people who are subject to violence continues to shock her, but she hopes this book will call attention to the narratives and stereotypes that deeply harm her community.
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Topics Covered:
● Ajuan’s personal relationship to Living While Black
● What it was like for Ajuan to do such a large collection of drawings around the violence and harassment of Black people
● Ajuan’s decision to include a timeline of events at the end of the book
● How the non black people's perceptions of African Americans put African Americans in danger
● Ajuan’s strategy for illustrating the community that’s left in the wake of traumatic events
● The message that Ajuan hopes to leave readers with
Guest Info:
● Living While Black: Portraits of Everyday Resistance
● Ajuan's Instagram
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Previous Episode
Today, I’m joined by Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker Vivian Kleiman. In her latest film, No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics, Vivian offers an intimate look at five pioneers of queer comics: Alison Bechdel, Rupert Kinnard, Howard Cruse, Jen Camper, and Mary Wings. The film also introduces a new generation of LGBTQ+ artists creating comics. In our conversation, Vivian and I discuss how this project came about and her thought process behind certain cinematic touches. Vivian hits on some of the storytelling conflicts she went through while creating the film, including how to bring the viewers into the hearts and minds of the featured artists.
We also talk about what it means for a film like this to be picked up by PBS, given the current political climate. Although she originally imagined No Straight Lines on a streaming platform like Netflix or HBO, it ultimately landed with Independent Lens, the independent documentary film branch of PBS. Vivian shares her approach to conforming with the FCC guidelines in a way that honors the content, but makes it available to a wide audience.
You can watch No Straight Lines for free on PBS until April 23, 2023. If you’re catching this episode after that date, it’s still available for a small fee as a PBS member.
Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Why Vivian pursued this film, even though she doesn't identify as a ‘comic geek’
● The importance of having queer stories represented in comics that are humorous, but also poignant
● How Vivian came up with a way to portray these artists and their work in a dynamic way
● Celebrating Tongues Untied, a landmark film she produced with Marlon Riggs, entering into the in the National Film Registry
Guest Info:
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● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
Next Episode
Ausma Zehanat Khan, Writer: Mysteries and Human Rights
March 1, 2023
•41m
Today, I’m joined by writer Ausma Zehanat Khan to discuss how she explores the scope and horror of nationalism, Islamophobia, and racism in page-turner detective novels. As a Muslim woman and former immigration and human rights lawyer, Ausma draws on her professional and personal experiences to craft enticing storylines around topics like criminal justice reform and race relations.
In our conversation, we unpack themes and details of her most recent book, Blackwater Falls, and Ausma provides insight into what inspired her to pursue this story. We also touch on some of Ausma’s earlier work, including her decade-long research on The Balkan Wars that informed her debut novel, The Unquiet Dead.
Ausma has a unique perspective on American politics as a Canadian living in rural Colorado. She sees first-hand the impact of systemic racism and xenophobia on BIPOC communities in her area.
Set in a similar town to where Ausma currently lives, Blackwater Falls illuminates the nuances of how ultra-nationalist movements gain traction and eventually erase multiculturalism. Through the heavy topics, Ausma also artfully weaves in elements of romance, family dynamics, and small town drama.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● What sparked Ausma’s investigation on military intervention and war crimes of The Balkan Wars
● Using crime fiction as a way to communicate about systemic injustices
● The identity challenges that many BIPOC law enforcement officers face
● Ausma’s thought process behind the three main power structures in Blackwater Falls
● The signs and consequences of ‘incrementalism’ in American politics
Guest Info:
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
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