Youth Day: The Power of Young People

The events of June 16, 1976 forever changed the history of South Africa. 

Several thousand students marched peacefully to protest against a directive by the Apartheid government, which had made the Afrikaans, the language spoken by the dominant White minority, required for all as a medium of instruction. 
 

On their way to the Soweto rally the students were met by armed police, who launched teargas and fired live ammunition. The incident led to a revolt and eventually a sustained nationwide uprising against the government. 

Youth Day in South Africa is celebrated in memory of all the youngsters who lost their lives during the protest, including Hector Pieterson, a 12 year-old student.  Images of Pieterson being carried through the streets led to international revulsion and political action against South Africa’s brutal regime.
 

Youth Day reminds us of the power of young people to organize for positive change.  Support the young people in your life to educate themselves about democracy and justice, and to work toward transforming the world for the better. 

Photo: Sam Nzima

Beads of Change meets Project Runway

Art Aids Art first met fashion designer Mondo Guerra at the San Gabriel Valley AIDS Action Summit, where he was keynote speaker.  Guerra gained international exposure as a contestant on TV’s Project Runway, making news not only by creating winning designs, but by publicly revealing his HIV+ status for the first time.  Following his keynote address, we were able to share a few words with Guerra and presented him with a South African AIDS pin.

Meanwhile in South Africa, artisans in our Women’s Skills Development Program were launching a new entrepreneurial initiative called Beads of Change.  We contacted them to share news from the summit, and during our brainstorm session decided to approach Guerra about featuring his winning Pozitivity design in beads.   He loved the idea and ordered 250 pins.

“Art has always helped me overcome difficulties in my life,” Guerra said.  “I’m proud to support Art Aids Art and Beads of Change to empower people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS through their art.”

Since that time, Beads of Change has produced custom designs for several South African tour groups and is ready to take orders. 

We hope to connect Beads of Change with American companies and organizations and invite you to send us your ideas.  Email us at info@artaidsart.org to receive flyers that you can share with your contacts. 

Celebrating African women on Aug. 9: Women's Day

 

On August 9, 1956, 20,000 South African women participated in a national march to protest pass laws designed by the White-minority Apartheid government to control the movement of Blacks. The marchers brought petitions signed by over 100,000 women opposed to the laws, which required them to carry pass books that could be checked at any time by police.  (photo by Jurgen Schadeberg, from Art Aids Art's traveling exhibit).

 On the way to protest at the Union Buildings, the women sang the following freedom song:

Wathint’ abafazi,
wathint’ imbokodo,
uza kufa!

[When] you strike the women,
you strike a rock, you will be crushed [you will die]!

Since 1994, August 9 has been recognized as National Women’s Day in South Africa.  Art Aids Art solutes the spirit of these courageous women as a reminder that we must all continuously work toward social justice for all people. 

History's only Vagina-friendly M&M's

In support of the 2011 Vagina Monologues at Mills College, Art Aids Art ordered custom printed M&M’s to commemorate the event. The Mars company informed us that use of the word “vagina” was inappropriate.  How was this possible in 2011, we ranted?

In response, we conceived some references that would make it past the censors.  However, when we placed a second order, Mars informed us that the original was mistakenly accepted.  So here they are, history’s only vagina-friendly M&M’s!  #Vagina