The Dayton International Peace Museum is currently displaying a unique collection of art created by 13 local high schoolers on its Facebook page that has been designed by members of the MYO, formerly known as the Muslim Sisters of Dayton. The artwork is titled, “Humanity Under Oppression.” Starting in October, the art will be traveling to the walls of Woodbourne Library, Wright Library and the Dayton International Peace Museum. The tour will run through December.
Our nation has gone through so much within the last year and a half through the pandemic, national protests, and murder cases that set a political stance. It has brought about fear, hatred, and made everyone more cautious than ever before. One group of students ask the community to learn peace through history.
“I see so much hate, selfishness and dictatorship attitudes around the world and I thought this topic would make our youth reflect o common threads that led to humanity’s oppression,” said Kaukab Husain, leader and organizer of MYO.
Recalling history reminds individuals how much our world has changed, evolved and helped communities around the world change. From genocide to racial and religious wars, MYO explores many topics of each.
“I hope people can understand and learn from the past,” said Husain, “I wish people can find ways to co-exist, believe in mutual respect and practice it to live and let live in peace.
Hannah Sabagh portrayed her interpretation of the South African Apartheid that occurred from 1948 to 1994 bringing about racial segregation pushing over 3.5 million Africans out of their homes.
Husain continued, “With all the violence around the world, random shootings and crimes of hate nationally, we were motivated to address this topic.”
Saliha Choudhury’s art piece demonstrates the Uyghur Crisis which caused an expansion of their detention camps forcing over one million Chinese people into forced labor, sterilizing women and participation in genocide acts since 2014.
The most known piece of art by Isha A. is of the Holocaust from 1941 to 1945 where over six million Jews were killed through genocide, which equaled about 60% of all European Jews population.
To add to the art collection, Sabu A. recalled the Ugandan Genocide in 1990. The dictator was overthrown after a brutal 8 year reign. Innocent residents of Uganda were beaten and tortured; many set of fire. Over 500,000 people were killed.
“I am hopeful that if our youth think good, act good and give good to the community, then they will learn to be good adults and that means the future will be in good hands,” Husain added.
Check out the whole collection on MYO’s Facebook page.
Follow this traveling art collection as it travels through the Miami Valley.
City Skipper Gal 