‘We get the spear from those that come before us’: The Invocation of Martin Delany in the Art of Contemporary Pittsburgh

• In Event: New Directions in Social Science

Abstract

In celebration of Juneteenth 2024, Rainbow Serpent, a Pittsburgh-based collective of multimedia artists working at the intersection of traditional African cosmologies, emerging technologies, and Black LGBTQ culture, will unveil a 1,200 sq. ft. mural entitled “We get the spear from those that come before us.” This piece is a complex tableau that honors the legacy of Martin Delany, who spent much of his life in Pittsburgh and is often heralded as the father of Pan-Africanism, Black nationalism, and the Kemetic Renaissance. In this presentation, I will delve into the intricacies of the mural’s symbolism; contribution to discourses of community memory; engagement with Delany’s fusion of Nile Valley, West African, and African American cultural lineages; and extensions of Delany’s artistic work.

Symbolizing his fiery militancy, the mural centrally positions Delany in a Union soldier’s uniform integrated with imagery derived from the Kushite deity Apedemak. This depiction includes three lion heads and four arms, with each holding an object representing different facets of Delany’s expansive influence—from his pioneering work in deciphering the hieroglyphics to his explorations aimed at establishing an emigration site for African Americans in West Africa. Foreground elements in the mural include scenes such as the burning of a plantation and the toppling of Confederate monuments. These scenes resonate both with post-George Floyd movements for racial justice and the missing final chapters of Delany’s novel “Blake,” which depicts a global slave revolt.

The mural incorporates several additional significant artifacts, such as the newspaper “The Mystery,” which Delany published, and items symbolizing his medical practice and Masonic affiliations. The title of the mural is included in the piece written in n’ko, a script used to transcribe the language of the Mandinka people, Delany’s maternal ancestors. This work asserts the continuing relevance of Delany for the unfolding of Black culture.

Author

• Marques Redd, Rainbow Serpent