"The Eighteen": Black Lives Matter Activists in Indianapolis, Indiana

Collection Title: "The Eighteen": Black Lives Matter Activists in Indianapolis, Indiana

Description: My objective is to explore some of the main groups involved in the Black Lives Matter Movement within the scope of the Indianapolis, Indiana community. I provide a case study into the broader movement by interviewing artists of a later-defaced local BLM mural. I think it is important to document these voices in a movement still in progress as these are the people who are enacting change on a more local scale. Interviews conducted by Claudia P Vinci for American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class.

: Deonna Craig Interview, November 9, 2020; This interview is part of a documentation of the experience of the artists who contributed to the Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Deonna Craig, one of the eighteen artists, is a professional artist and a teacher of after-school programs for elementary students. In this interview, Deonna discusses her realization of her calling as an artist, her painting of the letter “V” in “Lives”, and what the mural means to the community today.

: Gary Gee Interview, November 17, 2020; This interview is part of a documentation of the experience of the artists who contributed to the Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Gary Gee, one of the eighteen artists, is a full-time professional artist. In this interview, Gary discusses his long path to becoming a professional artist, his painting of the letter “I” in “Lives”, and the history of racism in the Indianapolis community.

: Rebecca Robinson Interview, October 12, 2020; This interview is part of a documentation of the experience of the artists who contributed to the Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Rebecca Robinson, one of the eighteen artists, is a professional artist whose other past projects include other murals, fashion design, and other art pieces. In this interview, Rebecca discusses how she came to be involved in the mural project, her painting of the letter “L” in “Black”, and the community of the self-titled “The Eighteen” artists.