“I Smile Because I Am Royalty and Nothing Less.” by Kalen Y. McGuire. (36"x48") Acrylic on Canvas. 2015.
 
Story Behind:
This artwork reflects symbolage of the following items: (1.) Travon Martin' hoodie & Skittled rope, (2.) Billie Holiday's song - "Strange Fruit", (3.) Burial Tombstones of: Ancestor's, Walter Scott, Michael Brown, *Innocent Lives*, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, and many unknown, (4.) Baltimore Riots, (5.) Dogon Pattern, (6.) "Negus" sign, (7.) James Baldwin, (8.) Caucasian Policeman, (9.) a Ft. Worth girl at Swim Party (10.) Eric Garner, (11.) a path of Colored bodies on back, (12.) Jail ID of Martin L. King, (13.) Kalen Y. McGuire baby picture, (14.) Kendrick Lamar's album - "To Pimp A Butterfly", (15.) Bible, (16.) a child's play ball. 
 
This protest artwork functions to empower people of color of urban African American communities to continue to respect and hold esteem for themselves despite traumatic spiritual warfare disguised in structural racism and practices of America often burdened on African Americans to weaken the belief of unity and life.