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Catalog Data

Created by:
LaToya Ruby Frazier, American, born 1982  Search this
Subject of:
Shea Cobb, American, born 1984  Search this
Zion Brown, American  Search this
Renée Cobb, American  Search this
Amber Hasan, American  Search this
Medium:
digital
Dimensions:
Duration: 00:11:47
22.77 GB
Type:
digital media - born digital
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
short subjects
Place depicted:
Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America
Date:
2016
Description:
A digital photo essay with the title Flint is Family. It was created by visual artist LaToya Ruby Frazier and documents the impact of the Flint water crisis on the lives of three generations of Flint women.
At the beginning of the essay, Flint artist and poet Shea Cobb can be heard saying, "When you think about water, you don't consider government. In fact, you don't consider people at all. Even though we've built plants and machines to alkalize and purify, when you think about it, you only in your most remote mind, if at all, think about God..." As she speaks, a slideshow depicting aerial footage of the Flint River, Flint Water Tower and local signage addressing the water crisis appears on the screen. One billboard reads [CHECKED YOUR / WATER FILTER? / GREEN LIGHT = FILTER WORKS / RED LIGHT = CHANGE FILTER CARTRIDGE]. Another sign reminds people to filter the lead coming from the pipes in their houses. Shea Cobb continues reciting her spoken word poetry about water and racial discrimination as a slideshow of black-and-white photographs plays on the screen.
At 00:02:13, Cobb introduces herself, provides a brief autobiography and describes her morning routine and her occupation, before moving on to her relationships with her mother and her daughter, Zion. As she speaks, the slideshow switches from images of Flint to images of Shea Cobb’s family. Some of the photos in the slideshow depict scenes such as Shea helping Zion with her homework, Shea and Zion dining in a local restaurant, Shea and Zion using bottled water to brush their teeth, Shea with fellow artist and friend Amber Hasan, Shea and other family members at a wedding in Flint etc. The photo essay ends with Shea describing her plans to leave Flint and the way the crisis will ultimately separate her family.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Artists' films  Search this
Communities  Search this
Domestic life  Search this
Families  Search this
Film  Search this
Government  Search this
Health  Search this
Humanitarianism  Search this
Photography  Search this
Race discrimination  Search this
Race relations  Search this
Spoken word (Poetry)  Search this
U.S. History, 2001-  Search this
Urban life  Search this
Urban planning  Search this
Women  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, purchased through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative
Object number:
2021.60.6
Restrictions & Rights:
© LaToya Ruby Frazier
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Portfolio/Series:
Flint is Family
Classification:
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd529a54c12-80cf-45ac-aab2-a1f0ec66b11a
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2021.60.6