Art has been a significant means of communication. It is a good old way of passing specific information from one generation to another. A single image in the art can communicate a thousand words. The Problem We All live with is a painting by Norman Rockwell from 1964, about the time when Negroes were isolated. His image happens down in the Southern part of the United States of America. Precisely, the painting shows a little girl walking down a footway, going to William Frantz School. This observation is significant, as it has to do with the Brown VS Board case, a special day in which throughout history a school was going to accommodate both the whites and blacks.
Norma uses the colors selectively purposely to communicate a broad meaning of hate besides contempt that blacks received from society. An instance of color has depicted the wall in the background that is lined by a red splatter of a tomato. The importance of this observation is the connection of colors with emotions. For instance, the red color is associated with a feeling of rivalry as well as hatred. Besides, this signifies the tendency of society to hold a grasping altitude that limits the potential of black people (Middleton 329). The images rekindle the old biases by the whites, as they never wanted blacks to receive an equal opportunity.
Moreover, the feeling is compounded by the use of the artistic technique line and shape. The wall features a jagged line striking through the word “NIGGER,” which also emphasizes the stigma and backlash blacks received from society and the vast extent society wanted blacks to be suppressed and displaced from their rights as human beings (King 160). However, Norma’s use of line and shape insists on another meaning as well.
The presentation of the art showing a young black woman that is walking has a straight posture demonstrating her confidence and willpower despite the image that society holds over her and wanting her to conform to their customs. Moreover, her steady stance is an emblem of the strength and the defiance of social norms that she embodies. Furthermore, Norma applies colors selectively and purposely to play an essential role in endorsing this idea. The white dress and white shoes that the young woman is wearing on top of her dark skin color demonstrates that she is the universal symbol of righteousness and the quintessential manifestation of what a pure human being is, and not defined by the prejudice of opinions but by the detachment of purpose and need.
The art on “The Problem We All Live With” is still relevant in the present today although the segregation of blacks and whites have settled. The main idea that Norma depicts is defying social norms as they apply to the concept of stereotypes that are prevalent in society at present; it shows us that we should not let other perspectives shape who we are or who we want to become (King 165). Instead, we must be tenacious and believe in our inherent qualities and ourselves. The art is one contributor that led to the civil rights activists that were passed 51 years ago declaring that no discrimination can be held against any religion, race, gender or national origin. However, some people still discriminated people of color. The painting, by nature, is thus a revolution for positive change in regards to humanity.
“The Problem We All Live With” by Norman Rockwell, is one of the major works related to arts that holds legacy over the years in history. He was categorical and precise in the design to pass an important message without any describing captions. The depicted young girl named Ruby Bridges at the age of 8 on her way to an all-white school illustrates a new era of knowledge and intelligence. She represents the process of transformation from old and outdated altitude to a modernized and more humane generation. She is observed being escorted by US Marshalls to the school and walks by racial slurs like “Niggers” and “KKK” in the background. It is an illustration of protecting the minorities. “To promote and protect public health, morals, better education and the peace and good order in the State, and not because of race” (Middleton 330). This quote is significant as it demonstrates the cohesion of the white and the black. It is meant to emphasize on accommodating each other, living in harmony and regarding each other equally important.
Norman portrays the power of art in appealing to nations for unanimity irrespective of racial differences. Also, the painting challenges the white protesters, whose perspective differs from the call to tolerance amongst one another. The painting receives several comments that appreciate the influence of the art. “Rockwell uses color and value to convey how Ruby had many obstacles when she wanted to go to school because of the dominance of other races and the prejudice against her” (Hoffman 210). This quote is significant as it demonstrates the possibilities of interpretation of the painting as purposed by the artist. In concluding, it can be appreciated that Rockwell uses a variety of visual elements to drive his point to the viewers. For this purpose, his painting mostly uses the visual aspect of color and value, showing people that the child, Ruby an African American was on her way to finding a future among the whites.
