Harvey B.

Gantt Center
Elana Kuvuna

John and Vivian Hewitt were two African-American trailblazers and educators that put
together and collected one of the most significant collections of art throughout the course of their
marriage. This is how the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture, which
is now a part of the Levine Center for the Arts came about. The Center is located in Uptown
Charlotte, North Carolina as it is named after the city of Charlottes first black Mayor, Harvey
Gant. The building has a very intricate and modernist structure wrapped in glass. As you walk
through on the first floor, the lobby is located on the second floor where the stairs and escalator
form a central glass atrium which is based off of Jacobs Ladder in the Bible book of Genesis.
This a metaphoric symbol that symbolizes the continual upward movement and progression of
the African American people. The galleries and pieces of art were then located on the third floor.
As we walked through the different galleries, it was almost as if the pieces were sorted based off
their color. Grayscale photos and paintings were in one section or room, while the more vibrant
pieces were in another. I favored this separation as well as the background music that
accompanied these rooms because it allowed the observer to tap into the mood of the artists.
Being an American-born citizen with to 100% foreign, African parents, I am a true
African American. It has always been a challenge and struggle for me to identify with the Black
American culture. I say that because most Africans believe that there is an actual, technical
difference between being Black American and authentically African American. And if I am
honest, that is a bias that many Africans hold against Black Americans, not because we are better

but because that is a technical and cultural difference that cannot just be mashed together to
describe every black person living in the United States. In the wake of all the political and racial
issues, there has been a rise in Black people saying that they prefer to be called American, simply
because they are American-born citizens; that is their nationality. For example, think of Albert
Chong. Mr. Chong was of both Jamaican and Chinese decent however permanently migrated to
the United States in 1977. Therefore he would identify as a Jamaican Chinese American. I was
born to two citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo, therefore I identify as African
American, and sometimes just African. Now take Al Sharpton who was born to two people of
Brooklyn, New York. He would technically identify as American. Just because my mother is a
woman of black race living in America, she doesnt identify as African American, but strictly
African. Now, I understand that it is said that the original man came from Africa, but for me
personally that is not simply enough to identify with. Identity. One of my favorite pieces that
correspond with this theme of identity is the Three Women of America, 1990 by Elizabeth Catlett.
The colorful and vibrant painting is of three ethnic woman overlapping the backgrounds of the
other. When I look at this painting, the vertical and definite shape of their faces elaborate the
bone structure in their faces. The definition of their personal facial characteristics separate one
from the other two. There appears to be a White, Black, and Hispanic women present in the
photo. There is a mixture of shades and features that connect all the woman as one. The White
womens right eye makes up the Black womans left eye, and the Black womens right eye
makes up the Hispanic womans left eye. Each woman shares the same eye color. The
blendedness of these three woman make me think and feel a sense of unity. Despite the way
America tries to make the average woman in American more human than human, this painting
is a depiction of what they truly look like and who they are. This painting is strong in alluding

the force of a womendiverse woman. We see these same three women walking on campus, in
the grocery store, and driving. Catlett does a great job of alluding to the serenity, beauty, sexual,
and spiritual power about the sexuality she makes about each womans race and nationality.
A second piece that stood out to me was Scatted Blessings, 2014 by Kevin Cole. This
piece was awesome in every way. Looking at the piece, the warmth and use of vibrant, vertical
colors made me feel excited. The use of a yellow hue as an under tone gave the piece depth as it
connected everything together. It appeared as if paint was splattered across a 3-D canvas. I think
of chaos when I first see this picture, but once again the versatility and flexibility of the yellow
and lavender undertones create a warming feeling. I feel a random spurge of victory and
excitement. I adore the title and I think it fits the piece will, Scattered Blessings. I personally
connect to this because it takes that much it takes to see that there is a blessing (s) in disguise.
Life can seem so chaotic at times, especially as little ol college students, but throughout the
course of time, there are blessings and opportunities in the midst of the chaos, coming in behind
the scenes, and bringing everything to order.
Walking through the Gantt Center, and looking at the passion of Africa and her culture in
various pieces, I loved it but I could help but ask is this real passion or is this just a movement. A
majority of black panthers, pro-afro trailblazers have never even stepped foot in any country in
Africa. Is this a display of real African American art or simply Black art? I remember being
a freshman in college and telling my African American friends that I was going to visit my
dad and relatives in Africa, and there response being why in the world do you go there so much,
theres all those mosquitos, and no hot or clean water, or electricity. My response to them was,
Well, would you ever visit? They responded with, Nah, well pass. From that moment on, I
learned that many people enjoy the luxury of claiming the African-American, Pro-Afro

movement, etc. but would never take the time not once in their life to go an experience the real
African life for themselves. So is it fair to claim the culture and have it attached to your name
without ever having lived it or had the desire to. Dont get me wrong, I adore the great
trailblazers that keep the art and movement going, but to me personally, I dont think it is valid
without having lived the reality. I think that is partially why I misidentify with my Black
American culture so much, because I was raised in and out of Africa by two African parents.
Im AFRICAN American. When a white person says the forbidden N-word, I am not as
offended nor will my reaction be as dramatic as a typical or average Black American. I hope this
makes sense. Overall, I enjoyed the Gantt Center and love the fact that there is a place for people
of all race to come and be educated about those that game before them and even those that came
after.