Clown with Watermelon III (1998)

This is one of a series of three watermelon images Beverly painted in an exploration of racial stereotypes, including the idea that all African Americans like watermelon. "It was me saying this is really silly. And it was also me trying to feel comfortable eating watermelon in public. I've always felt like I couldn't do anything in public that was too black because I felt like people were judging me and saying, 'See! I told you black people like watermelon.'"

Click to view full-size image…