In the days since 18-year-old Nia Wilson was slain in Oakland, Bay Area artists have taken up their pens to honor her memory. With hand-drawn illustrations, digital collages and mixed media works, artists from Oakland and San Francisco have demanded justice and called to #SayHerName.
“Hearts are destroyed here in Oakland and all over,” write Victoria Emanuela and Caitie Metz, co-founders of feminist press On Being In Your Body. “Show up. Listen. Speak up. Don’t let your privilege sit on the sidelines and watch. Rest in power, Nia.”
Some have spoken up through their art, while others have taken to the streets. What unites them is an enduring need to honor Wilson, the teenage girl from Oakland with big dreams who died while helping a stranger on the BART train.
Below, find 10 tributes to Nia Wilson by Bay Area artists.
“Love, protect and honor Black womxn because we far too beautiful for this world. Rest easy young #angel I pray your assassination and the continual violence our peoples endure all over the diaspora be met with stronger and deeper rebellion and love.” — Francis (@girasoulll)
“Hearts are destroyed here in Oakland and all over. Show up. Listen. Speak up. Don’t let your privilege sit on the sidelines and watch. Rest in power, Nia. #justicefornia” — @onbeinginyourbody feminist press
“Mainstream media’s continued dehumanization of Black Lives by criminalizing them is White Supremacy!” — Aleńa Culture Collective (Artwork by @lady_luuz)
“A caption doesn’t really do it, but trying to help spread visibility for Nia, who was killed in a brutal racial hate crime Sunday night on the bay area’s public transportation.” — Sarah Green Studio
“The news of Nia Wilson’s death has been on my mind all week—it hit particularly close to home as MacArthur used to be my stop. This beautiful girl deserved to grow up and live a full life without the threat of white supremacy or hatred lurking over her shoulder. As her sister Letifah said, black women deserve to live freely, always.” — Rachel Frankel (@shespeakseasy)
“I’m not sure how I feel about everything. I want to know why he did it, but I know there’s nothing he can say that will justify any of it. I’m just angry. And I know that we won’t know his motives for sure until after the interrogation and investigation, but I really deep in my soul KNOW it was a hate crime.” — Kaylani Juanita (@kaylanijuanita)
