Artist Statement

People who differ from the American norm are pushed into society’s margins. Displaying a different set of cultural customs, being open about your sexuality, or not conforming to the role society expects of your gender all require courage because of the taboo America places on being “different.” Because of this, many of these marginalized people are silenced, or feel the need to silence themselves, to conform to the majority.
In 2020, a spotlight was cast upon the injustice faced by minorities in America. With the start of the pandemic, Asian Americans faced an increase in violent hate crimes. The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sparked a series of protests all over the country, with people from all backgrounds coming together to speak out against police brutality. Many people only now recognized that they needed to truly listen to the experiences of others and use their voices in defense of minorities.
When people are unable to share their experiences, they become invisible—the majority is able to turn a blind eye to the adversity they face. America has never been and never will be one uniform culture, and when people aren’t able to celebrate their identity, American culture is lost.
By taking a button, you choose to become a part of the experience by embracing and displaying the identity it represents. As each culture disappears from the wall, you will see the damage that erasing one’s identity to conform to the majority does to America. Equality can only be achieved when people of all identities are free to be themselves. I hope that you walk away from this piece with a sense of pride for your identity and the community that your button represents as you display it for others to see.