Activism 1960-69

Content warning: violence, racism, language

Campus demonstrations, petition letters and activism posters/artwork directly protest US involvement in the Vietnam War. Zines, posters and newspaper clips discuss the value of Black art in relation to ongoing civil and human rights violations experienced during this era.

Bold text with illustration of child carrying another child on back
Red stop sign with "war" added below
Hitler holding a mask of Nixon
Group of student protesters climbing the Statehouse steps
newspaper page with headline "Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis” at top left of page
newspaper page with small box in left corner with headline “Student Teaches”
Newspaper article
Petition on white page with multiple signatures
Person in a graveyard installing a cross
Students setting up artwork on sidewalk
First page of a printed letter
Person adding signature to large artwork protesting US invasion of Southeast Asia
typed document titled “White Affirmation of Support for the RISD Black Community”
typed document written in 1968 stating the support of Black RISD students for peers at Brown University
a newsprint page with an article headline that reads “Student Group Turns Activist”
newspaper page with story headline "Ecology Action" at top of page
newspaper page with headline “Torres” running along right side of page
newspaper page with headline “John Torres—Troublemaker” at top of page
Bold text with illustration of child carrying another child on back

Unity in Our Love of Man, Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Unity in Our Love of Man, Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Red stop sign with "war" added below

Stop War, Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Stop War, Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Hitler holding a mask of Nixon

Vietnam War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Vietname War protest poster, RISD student, 1970

Group of student protesters climbing the Statehouse steps

Student antiwar demonstration, Rhode Island State House, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

Student antiwar demonstration, Rhode Island State House, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

newspaper page with headline "Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis” at top left of page

“Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3

“Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3

newspaper page with small box in left corner with headline “Student Teaches”

“Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis” (continued)

“Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis” (continued), The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3

Newspaper article

"Hit Them Hard and Low: You May Not Be in this Game Long", John Torres (RISD faculty), 1969

"Hit Them Hard and Low: You May Not Be in this Game Long", John Torres (RISD faculty), 1969

Petition on white page with multiple signatures

Anti-war petition, RISD Museum, 1970

Anti-war petition, RISD Museum, 1970

Person in a graveyard installing a cross

RISD Beach gravesite installation, RISD students, 1970

RISD Beach gravesite installation, RISD students, 1970

Students setting up artwork on sidewalk

Installation of antiwar mobile artwork petition, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

Installation of antiwar mobile artwork petition, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

First page of a printed letter

Black Student Community of RISD Statement of Belief, 1969

Black Student Community of RISD Statement of Belief, 1969
View full PDF here

Person adding signature to large artwork protesting US invasion of Southeast Asia

Antiwar mobile artwork petition, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

Antiwar mobile artwork petition, 1970 (Providence Journal photo)

typed document titled “White Affirmation of Support for the RISD Black Community”

White Affirmation of Support for the RISD Black Community, document, 1968

White Affirmation of Support for the RISD Black Community, document, 1968

typed document written in 1968 stating the support of Black RISD students for peers at Brown University

We the Black Students of Rhode Island School of Design, document, May 16, 1968

We the Black Students of Rhode Island School of Design, document, May 16, 1968

a newsprint page with an article headline that reads “Student Group Turns Activist”

“Student Group Turns Activist,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 18–25, 1969

“Student Group Turns Activist,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 18–25, 1969

newspaper page with story headline "Ecology Action" at top of page

“Ecology Action,” RISD, newspaper, November 1969, vol. 1 no. 4

“Ecology Action,” RISD, newspaper, November 1969, vol. 1 no. 4

newspaper page with headline “Torres” running along right side of page

“John Torres—Troublemaker” (continued)

“John Torres—Troublemaker” (continued), The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3

newspaper page with headline “John Torres—Troublemaker” at top of page

“John Torres—Troublemaker,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3

“John Torres—Troublemaker,” The Designer’s News, newspaper, May 19–25, 1969, vol. 1 no. 3

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