Black Lives Matter protest art: Uncovering explicit and implicit emotions through thematic analysis.

Abstract

Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, activists who support Black Lives Matter in Washington, DC began affixing protest art and signs to a fence erected at the White House. Uniting models of activist emotions with psychological theories can indicate how activists' expressions offer opportunities for honoring how current sentiments promote balance and enact transformation. A qualitative thematic analysis of the 638 phrases and 110 images revealed high frequencies of anger, which includes conveying social justice messages, and pride, such as showcasing identity. Grief was the second lowest documented emotion but was composed of the highest number of cataloged images (memorializing). The results indicate that protester's emotional expressions comprise both explicit messages and complex feelings, which require dedicated spaces for the expression of more vulnerable emotions. Public Significance StatementThe study suggests that Black Lives Matter protest messages in Washington, DC reveal explicit expressions of anger and pride but that the protest art reflects grief. Mental health therapists and community advocates can address these different emotions in either public or private support spaces.

“Respect existence or expect … resilience?” epistemic reflexivity towards liberated disaster studies

“…1. While I recognise the commodification, re-appropriation and potential de-politicisation of the slogan, its usage continues to be associated with progressive change, including climate strikes (Bowman, 2020), women’s marches (McClelland-Cohen and Endacott, 2020), Black Lives Matter (Vance and Potash, 2022) and trans rights (Martz and Kramer-Urner, 2019). …”