Cheyonne Thompson

As an African American male I am not knowing what to expect as a citizen.

This painting is inspired by a picture of Ahmaud Arbery who had just been shot and killed. That picture depicted Arbery in his cap and gown and at that time I was getting ready to graduate college myself. Aubrey had just reached a big check point in life and he was going on in his life to something big, but then his story came to an abrupt, devastating end because of people who didn't agree with the tint of his skin.

After seeing that picture, I came away with a sense of personal uncertainty as it dimmed my achievement and excitement due to not knowing if my story can come to an end because of how I look.

What am I really graduating from? What am I walking to?