Merging Art and Activism - an interview with artist Sabrina Robinson

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

Since the death of George Floyd, all Americans have been waking up to the reality of the police brutality that Black Americans experience. There have been thousands of protests, demanding change all over the world, including those here in Charlotte. Since last May, artist Sabrina Robinson has been taking photos of Black Lives Matter speeches and protests. Jordan Anne Johnson, a volunteer writer for West Boulevard Library’s Teen Circular had the opportunity to interview Sabrina whom shared her experience and thoughts about the protests she has attended.

Jordan: How did you become a photographer?

Sabrina: I started taking photos in church as a hobby. It became fun for me and I started studying it in college, but it never occurred to me to think about being a photographer as a profession. It only got serious when I met a Washington Post photographer. He took me under his wing, and I really started thinking about photography as a career.

Jordan: What do you remember seeing at every protest?

Sabrina: I remember seeing passion at every protest. There were all kinds of people from unique demographics, backgrounds, social and economic status, etc. participating and cheering for the same thing. I saw skaters, bikers, photographers, people playing basketball, speech givers, everyone had such a passionate role that they took seriously in the movement. I can only describe it as passion.

Jordan: What is one word you would use to describe the experience of the protest?

Sabrina: The first word that comes to my mind is "Unique”. I have seen popular organizations like the NAACP organize protests with lots of people. But I have also seen what it is like when a small group of young people get together wondering what to do. The smaller ones are the most intriguing to me because you must motivate and inspire yourself a bit more than if you were surrounded by hundreds of people.

Jordan: Were the protests different from the way the news described them? If yes, how were they different?

Sabrina: The protests that I went to were different than the way that the news described them. The news makes it seem more dramatic, negative and does not tell everyone's story. Being a photographer, I can tell everyone's story and different points of view.

Jordan: What is one thing that you learned from the speeches that were made at the protests?

Sabrina: I learned a lot of things from the protest and speeches that I went to. One of the things that I did learn is what defund the police really means and how most of Charlotte city funding goes to the CMPD for rubber bullets, illegal teargas and militarized police.

Image Source: The photos used were captured by artist Sabrina Robinson and were provided by her with permission to use in this blog post.

Sabrina Robinson is an accomplished artist who uses multiple mediums, such as photography and graphic arts, to tell stories, bring awareness and normalcy to conversations around activism, civic and social change, and mental health. In her current role, Sabrina continues to use art to give voice and agency to her community by capturing various events around Charlotte like protests, frontline workers, and displaced families and channeling it into programs that provide insight, depth, and encouragement to audiences in hopes that they use their gift to amplify their voice. More of Ms. Robinson's work can be found on her Instagram page: @signedspkr.

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This blog was written by twelve-year-old Jordan Anne Johnson, a volunteer writer for West Boulevard Library’s Teen Circular. Link to the full publication: https://bit.ly/3nMNqof