The Activist for Activists. Author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and The Happy Activist: Journey the 5-Step Activism Path to Focus Your Passion and Change the World. Teacher, Psychologist, Environmental Activist, Animal Lover.
- Grandparents Can Develop Activist Grandchildren - September 29, 2025
- Top Six Reasons Credit Union Benefits Are a Smart Choice Over Banks - August 18, 2025
- The Meaning of Equanimity: Discover How to Survive Challenges with Composure - June 9, 2025
Last Updated on October 23, 2024
Artist Carl Gombert taught me a unique perspective on racism.
Is there a person in your life that you seem to run into everywhere? You step into your favorite restaurant and see them at a table. Show up for a meeting about city planning and they are giving input. Attend a concert and they are in the audience.
Carl Gombert is one of those people for me. It happened recently when I attended a Bystander Intervention Class. Carl was one of my facilitators. His many talents amaze me, including how he teaches about racism in a unique way.
Art as Activism: Teaching About Racism
A few years ago Carl facilitated a racism session of Talking to Kids and Teens about Race that featured his art installation The Real Me. Check out the slideshow of some of the self-portraits from The Real Me. Mule (shown above) is one of the portraits.
We browsed the paintings, all self-portraits but with different skin, hair, and eye colors, as well as accessories. Then we talked about what we saw and our reactions. Although many of us described facial differences, Carl revealed the truth. Each painting’s faces were the same. He described the measurements he made so the only differences you see are the ‘trappings’, and then led us into a discussion about how context influences racism.
[Browse more examples of artistic activism.]
Interview With Carl Gombert
I interviewed Carl for my book The Happy Activist (formerly What’s on Your Sign?) Here is an excerpt:
I have been aware of and deeply interested in the power of images for a very long time, but I was never an overtly political artist. In fact, I have very mixed reactions—I admire much political/activist art but I also find much of it to be heavy-handed and/or overbearing. Moreover, I never really chose a topic or cause for activism. Rather, I made a series of works that interested me, and merely let them speak to a variety of issues.
Why He Created “The Real Me” To Teach About Racism
A series of self-portraits depicting myself as different races, ethnicities, religions, social classes and occupations (collectively titled The Real Me) began as an alternative to written material.
I was teaching a first-semester college seminar with the goal of helping students come to terms with the reality that their identity was shaped and influenced by a variety of factors, and likely differed considerably from that of their classmates. Rather than yet another article to read, I wanted primary visual sources that would allow them to talk about how they perceived and reacted to different visual cues such as skin color, hairstyle, costume, and religious symbols.
Somewhat surprisingly, the work resonated with audiences of all ages and seemed to be a very effective tool for initiating important conversations. Thus, I became an activist—I guess—for advancing the causes of racial justice and equality, but only in so far as I helped people start examining their own thoughts and preconceptions.
The Work Comes First
For me, the work always comes first. As it gets made, I start to discover what it might mean, how it might connect to larger causes or conversations, and so on. So, I am not sure I have any advice for new activists other than to pay attention, and to remember that what your work means isn’t entirely up to you. An artist’s intentions are important and are part of the whole package, but they are not the sole determinant of what it means or how it is perceived.
[Are you ready to mobilize, too?]
READ NEXT
More Posts About Racism:
- What Can White People Do To Support Racial Justice?
- How to Understand Racial Injustice in a Deeper Way
- What Can White People do to Support Racial Justice?
- What Can White People Do to Support Black Lives Matter?
Browse more activist profiles.
I’m thrilled to have come across this today Terri. My third in a series “Talking About Race” came out this morning. Such a timely and vital topic. I shall share with enthusiasm. Btw, I lived and worked in the Akron Ohio area until 1994 and am also a KSU graduate. I enjoy small world reminders.
Welcome, Janet! I visited your website and I believe we are kindred spirits. I’m looking forward to reading your blog.
Such an interesting artist. And his portraits are very revealing.
Yes, he is! I had the opportunity to attend a forum that used his portraits to talk about racism. At that point, I didn’t know the faces were ‘exactly’ the same. As I browsed, I found myself labeling the portraits – this one is happier, this one seems sad. And then to find out there is no difference was fascinating.
Pingback: How to Use Artistic Activism to Change the World
Pingback: Get Inspired By Amazing Activists • Life At the Intersection
Pingback: What Can White People Do to Support Black Lives Matter?
Wow! What an imaginative way to teach about racism using art. All the faces were the same! Another wonderful example of how we each can use our own talents to promote social justice and speak out against racism.
Laurie, Carl lets his talent drive his activism. So fascinating! Do you use your talents for activism?
Pingback: 3 Reasons why to join #151 Senior Salon • Esme Salon
Pingback: SENIOR SALON ROUNDUP: DEC 3-7, 2018 • Esme Salon
Pingback: What Can White People do to Support Racial Justice?