Laron Bickerstaff ASL Black Lives Matter Letterpress Print

At Creativity Explored racial and social justice are integral to our mission. The intersectionality of disability and our artists’ identities inform our person-centered art practices. We continue to cultivate an environment where CE artists are free to explore, celebrate, and challenge their own identities through their art practice. As with any artist, Laron Bickerstaff uses his art as another means to communicate with the world.

In an effort to encourage his peers and the wider community to learn American Sign Language, Bickerstaff illustrated his own font, depicting each letter of the alphabet with hand gestures. His ASL lettering has been used to communicate messages of love, friendship, peace, and thanks and a campaign by LISTOS for emergency preparedness.

Most notably, Bickerstaff uses his ASL lettering in his original animation Laron’s Home (2005) to spell out: DEAF MAN ME, BLACK MAN ME. He uses his illustrated ASL font, to share his identities and observations, encouraging the viewer to consider ways we understand one another. Laron was excited to use his lettering to spell Black Lives Matter and support the wellness of Black communities in San Francisco with Rafiki Coalition.

Rafiki Coalition for Health & Wellness’ mission is to eliminate health inequities in San Francisco’s Black and marginalized communities through education, advocacy, and by providing holistic health and wellness services in a culturally affirming environment. You can learn more about their efforts on their website: rafikicoalition.org