Artist Faith Ringgold challenged the status quo and was unapologetically vocal about racism and sexism. In the 1950s, Ringgold encountered gender-based restrictions at City University of New York. Women were barred from the fine arts department, so Ringgold majored in education instead. In the 1960s, she experienced the civil rights and Black Power movements firsthand. As a result, she defied the conventional concerns of collectors and art critics. The discrimination Ringgold encountered became a driving force in shaping her art.

Between 1963 and 1967, Ringgold completed her well-known American People series, portraying subjects of diverse races, genders, and economic backgrounds. But Ringgold’s best-recognized works may be her story quilts, beginning with Who’s Afraid of Aunt Jemima? (1983). These quilts offer insightful commentary on societal issues.