Red Dirt Ready

This piece depicts a Black man in a tailored suit lying in his final resting place with the words “Casket Sharp” serving as a header and footer. “Casket Sharp,” normally a compliment of how well one is dressed, adds a chilling layer as it points out the significance of Black Dandyism and the complex reality of the Tulsa Race Massacre in the Greenwood District. Inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the artist considered how people living in Tulsa’s Black Wall Street were some of the most affluent and well dressed individuals in the nation. The unfortunate history of the massacre, which remains the deadliest act of racial violence in U.S. history, is that countless Black people lost their lives and were dumped in mass graves. This piece aims to humanize the lives lost, as those who once lived aimed to humanize themselves through dandyism and their personal style. The use of denim, historically referred to as “Negro Cloth,” as a material for the tailored suit adds an element of depth, highlighting the way that Black people make the most of the circumstances they find themselves in, the same way Black Tulsans did with their segregated neighborhood. Oklahoma is known for its signature red dirt, which is why Black Tulsans who were fine and dandy, or casket sharp, were “Red Dirt Ready” the night of the massacre, giving this piece its name. “Red Dirt Ready” serves to honor the lives of the people of Black Wall Street, giving them a dignified resting place and showcasing their style.