Inconvenient Truths: Tipping the Scale of Transcendence

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Harriets’ Inconvenient Truths (H.I.T.) is a layered artwork symbolizing the enduring struggles for justice and identity, rooted in workshops led by Kamora Herrington with Stowe Center for Literary Activism. This acrylic and collage piece presents duality in American culture, centering on two Harriets: Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and Harriet Jacobs, an emancipated slave who shared her life to further the abolitionist cause. Themes in the painting are drawn from intense dialogues around race, history, and social structures.

The flooded cabin in the painting nods to Josiah Henson, the real-life inspiration for Uncle Tom, exploring how labels like “Uncle Tom” warp Black authenticity and symbolically represent internal conflict, symbolized by the spray-painted "WAR" in red. A Band-Aid labeled “CIVIL” holds together the cabin, questioning the fragile peace upheld by a reluctant civility.

Elements within the composition illustrate the difficult journey towards freedom, marked by a train carrying stages from inspiration to appropriation. Symbols like a broken choker chain signify freedom through literacy, while slices of cake reference societal inequities. One side leads to limited choices and a desolate landscape, while the other, with an “x” marking freedom from “ENSLAVEMENT,” depicts the pathway toward liberation and empowerment.

The painting juxtaposes the two Harriets, bridging their narratives with icons like the tulip of hope and birds signifying transformation. Stowe’s empathetic journey following her son’s loss and Jacobs’ courageous voice reflect shared resilience. With symbols like a compass labeled “Sojourner TRUTH,” scales of justice, and an upside-down crown, H.I.T. underscores courage and curiosity as paths to empathy and empowerment. Ultimately, the piece invites viewers to reflect on responsibility, voice, and collective action, aligning with the Stowe Center’s vision for engagement fostering empathy, empowerment, and societal change.