Background
The historical experiences of Black people highlight the importance of reaffirming their pride as a race and preventing the recurrence of dehumanizing experiences, sociological misinterpretations, and ideological misrepresentations of their culture, ontology, and indigenous knowledge systems. To achieve this goal, Black people must be "painted black" - an invitation for Black people to project how they should be seen and for others to avoid consciously or unconsciously distorting the lives and realities of Black people. Contemporary media, particularly social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, provide a valuable context for this project. While these platforms have been used to criminalize the Black race and perpetuate race-based language and stereotypes, they have also been used by Black people to showcase their culture, lifestyle, history, arts, technologies, fashions, and indigenous knowledge systems. This research in visual digital humanities focuses on how Black people have painted themselves "black" on Instagram.
Aim
As a visual research project, the goal is to use images posted on social media platforms with hashtags like #blackpeople or #black to explore questions about Black people's identity, self-perception, reactions to derogatory portrayals of their race, and desired representation. The images collected will aim to showcase the aesthetic values and rationality (specifically, scientific, and mathematical underpinnings) behind Black heritage in the form of arts and artifacts.
Scope and Delimitation
This research will not address political or sociological concerns of Black people but will instead focus on how they convey meaning and values through arts and artifacts that represent essential aspects of their culture.
Theoretical Framework
Drawing on the works of African scientists and artists like Paulus Gerdes, Ron Eglash, and Claudia Zaslavsky, the project posits that traditional African designs embody geometrical patterns, calculations, and theories, as well as demonstrate the fusion of African knowledge systems (particularly mathematics) and information technology. As a Digital Humanities project, we aim to explore the potential of enhancing these designs and fractals as part of Black heritage.
Methodology
Data Collection Images are mined from Instagram using a Python algorithm that interacts with the platform's Application Programming Interface (API). By using #black as the search criterion, over 320,000 pictures were downloaded and sorted into categories of African arts and artifacts that embody geometrical patterns known as Fractals. Website Development: The current website was developed using WordPress Content Management System, but there is an ongoing upgrade using React JS, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React JS was chosen for its ability to create reusable components, which simplifies the development process and allows for easy updates in the future. In addition, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS were used to structure the content, apply styling, and manage the interactive elements of the website. These technologies were combined to create a visually appealing and responsive platform that effectively presents the curated images and communicates the research's findings to a wide audience.
Audience and Engagements
The Paint Me Black initiative captivates a diverse audience fascinated by African fractals and Black heritage. Offering valuable insights to researchers, artists, educators, students, and the public, the project highlights the beauty, mathematical basis, and creative possibilities of African fractals. The accessible website acts as an engaging platform for learning and conversations about Black heritage, cultural portrayal, and the influence of social media on shaping perceptions. It encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich history and varied cultural fabric of Black communities.