I've got some thoughts. Hear me out. The attack and mockery coming from people (mostly those from the right), who despise the official portraits of Barack & Michelle Obama are experiencing that uneasy feeling that they are not a part of this narrative.
Looking at the official portraits of all the presidents throughout US history you'll see something glaringly obvious: black people are not a part of this narrative.
And here we are: with two African-American artists forging new paths through aesthetics and history. Yes, the argument that art is subjective is very true. I am not telling you that you are uncultured for not liking either portrait here.
What I *am* saying is that the Obama's knew the significance and importance of their place in history and thoughtfully chose artists to reflect that.
The portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, respectfully, stand out objectively and subjectively because their subjects do. Unapologetically. And this is a good thing
-Ward Jenkins
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