Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice (Smithsonian American Art Museum)

First book to celebrate painter William H. Johnson’s Fighters for Freedom series, a tribute to African American heroes who worked to achieve social justice. William H. Johnson painted his Fighters for Freedom series in the mid-1940s as a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international heads of state working to bring peace to the world. He celebrated their accomplishments even as he acknowledged the realities of racism, violence, and oppression they faced and overcame. Some of his Fighters ― Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Marian Anderson, and Mohandas Gandhi ― are familiar historical figures; others are less well-known individuals whose determination and sacrifice have been eclipsed over time. Johnson elevates their lives visually, offering historical insights and fresh perspectives. Through their stories he suggests that the pursuit of freedom is an ongoing, interconnected struggle, with moments of both triumph and tragedy, and he invites us to reflect on our own struggles for justice today. In Fighters for Freedom Johnson reminds us that individual achievement and commitment to social justice are at the heart of the American story.