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Banksy’s Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days

The iconic anonymous artist and avid social critic Banksy is back with a new piece of art in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Along with the artwork, which features a burning American flag lit by a candle, came a powerful message. “People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system,” the elusive street artist stated in an Instagram post. It has now been liked more than 2.4 million times.

It’s not the first time that Banksy has made a statement with his art. Previously, he paid a tribute to the front-line health workers battling the coronavirus pandemic. Read about the piece called “Game Changer” in our previous post right here. Before that, the Bristol-born artist revealed a funky take on the lockdown in this piece of a rat-infested bathroom.

More info: Instagram | banksy.co.uk

The artist has paid a tribute to George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement in this powerful artwork

Banksy's Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days

Image credits: banksy

Banksy's Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days

Image credits: banksy

He also shared this moving message

Banksy's Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days

Image credits: banksy

A Black Lives Matter protest took over the streets of Bristol, England on Sunday near where Banksy is presumed to have been born. Local police estimated that 10,000 protesters participated.

During the protest, demonstrators pulled down a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston. They tied the bronze statue with rope before taking it down as the crowd cheered.

According to local police, “There was a small group of people who clearly committed an act of criminal damage in pulling down a statue near Bristol Harbourside.” The police are said to have started an investigation into the matter.

Mr. Floyd died as a result of a white police officer holding him down by pressing his knee into his neck in Minneapolis on 25 May. The incident sparked the George Floyd protests that we’re now seeing all over the world.

And this is how people reacted

Banksy's Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days

Previously, Banksy revealed his piece “Game Changer” as a tribute to front-line health workers

Banksy's Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days

Image credits: banksy

“My wife hates it when I work from home,” posted Banksy along with this funky artwork

Banksy's Statement About White Privilege Gets Over 2 Million Likes In 2 Days

Image credits: banksy

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Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

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What do you think ?

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Lars 4 years ago

My grandfather died fighting in ww2. I had to join the military to fund college. Kiss my white a*s. I have had very little privilege.

2points

XianJaguar 4 years ago

Tell me about it. I've been poor and white most of my adult life. I lived in s****y neighborhoods, because that's all i could afford. I've been robbed, my house has been shot up by gang wars, and I gone through more s**t than many people. I've been harassed on a regular basis by police as well, when I was driving a truck that had bumper stickers on it. What is this "white privilege" that you speak of?

2points

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Blackheart 4 years ago (edited)

The contrasts in the work of black and white are purposeful to show the racial divide. The figure in the picture is sort of an anyman figure, meaning it could be any African American because many have been victims. The flowers and candles represent the thoughts and condolences, but they are not actions. With out action it will continue, hence the candle burning the flag. The flag and the flame are the only part of the painting in full color, and are subject of this work, and in this case, the root this situation.

1point