Alabama Invitational 2023 – Exhibiting Artist
In the South, one aspect that truly caught me off guard was the casual ease with which
individuals could declare themselves as ministers. Initially, I considered this might be a ploy for
evading taxes, but over time, I’ve come to realize it’s often a different path to wielding power
behind the scenes. The concept of freedom, framed as the absence of cultural limitations on one’s
actions, has a history intertwined with the power to dominate and subjugate. What strikes me the
most is how the paradox of advocating for personal freedom while simultaneously suppressing
others’ rights is so often ignored, especially within the realms of religion and politics.
It’s the height of hypocrisy that such attitudes find refuge under the cloak of religious beliefs,
providing them with unwarranted legitimacy to dictate moral and economic norms. A prevailing
topic on the far right is the idea of the “Great Replacement,” where they accuse liberal forces of
intentionally replacing native white Americans with an influx of minority groups. Yet, I can’t
help but wonder if extremist factions like the Proud Boys are truly concerned about the
replacement of men by women at their core.
The evolving landscape of toxic masculinity appears to be a manifestation of the fears harbored
by white supremacists and conservative evangelical preachers. These anxieties extend beyond
the surface and touch upon a more profound apprehension: a perceived erosion not only of
testosterone but of masculinity itself. It’s not coincidental that groups like the Proud Boys are
gaining traction at a time when the number of women in Congress has reached unprecedented
levels, and women are outpacing men in earning college and graduate degrees. Once again,
there’s a push to impose traditional, outdated views of women’s roles – confining them to the
home as conventional housewives and mothers.
The successes of women and minorities in infiltrating domains that were previously considered
bastions of masculinity seem to have triggered a reactionary response, leading to overt repression
and even violence. The narrative of a supposed war on masculinity is being used to justify this
pushback. As someone witnessing this dynamic, it’s frustrating to see progress being met with
resistance, and it’s disheartening to watch individuals manipulate religion and political rhetoric to
further their own agendas, even when those agendas perpetuate inequality and division.
