Below is a list of black people killed by police in the US that was compiled from NPR and Wikipedia. Some of the names you will recognize; some you will not. They were living, breathing human beings who are now dead. Say their names—out loud.

• ERIC GARNER
• JOHN CRAWFORD III
• MICHAEL BROWN
• EZELL FORD
• DANTE PARKER
• MICHELLE CUSSEAUX
• LAQUAN MCDONALD
• TANISHA ANDERSON
• AKAI GURLEY
• TAMIR RICE
• RUMAIN BRISBON
• JERAME REID
• GEORGE MANN
• MATTTHEW AJIBADE
• FRANK SMART
• NATASH MCKENNA
• TONY ROBINSON
• ANTHONY HILL
• MYA HALL
• PHILLIP WHITE
• ERIC HARRIS
• WALTER SCOTT
• WILLIAM CHAPMAN II
• ALEXIA CHRISTIAN
• BRENDON GLENN
• VICTOR MANUEL LAROSA
• JONATHAN SANDERS
• FREDDIE GRAY
• JOSEPH MANN
• SALVADO ELLSWOOD
• SANDRA BLAND
• ALBERT JOSEPH DAVIS
• DARIUS STEWART
• BILLY RAY DAVIS
• SAMUEL DUBOSE
• MICHAEL SABBIE
• BRIAN KEITH DAY
• CHRISTIAN TAYLOR
• TROY ROBINSON
• ASSHAMS PHAROAH MANLEY
• FELIX KUMI
• KEITH HARRISON MCLEOD
• JUNIOR PROSPER
• LOMONTEZ JONES
• PATTERSON BROWN
• DOMINIC HUTCHINSON
• ANTHONY ASHFORD
• ALANZO SMITH
• TYREE CRAWFORD
• INDIA KAGER
• LA’VANTE BIGGS
• MICHAEL LEE MARSHALL
• JAMAR CLARK
• RICHARD PERKINS
• NATHANIEL HARRIS PICKETT
• BENNI LEE TIGNOR
• MIGUEL ESPINAL
• MICHAEL NOEL
• KEVIN MATTHEWS
• BETTIE JONES
• QUINTONIO LEGRIER
• KEITH CHILDRESS JR.
• JANET WILSON
• RANDY NELSON
• ANDRONIE SCOTT
• WENDELL CELESTINE
• DAVID JOSEPH
• CALIN ROQUEMORE
• DYZHAWN PERKINS
• CHRISTOPHER DAVIS
• MARCO LOUD
• PETER GAINES
• TORREY ROBINSON
• DARIUS ROBINSON
• KEVIN HICKS
• MARY TRUXILLO
• DEMARCUS SEMER
• WILLIE TILLMAN
• TERRILL THOMAS
• SYLVILLE SMITH
• ALTON STERLING
• PHILANDO CASTILE
• TERENCE CRUTCHER
• PAUL O’NEAL
• ALTERIA WOODS
• JORDAN EDWARDS
• AARON BAILEY
• RONELL FOSTER
• STEPHON CLARK
• ANTWON ROSE II
• BOTHAM JEAN
• PAMELA TURNER
• DOMINIQUE CLAYTON
• ATATIANA JEFFERSON
• CHRISTOPHER WHITFIELD
• CHRISTOPHER MCCORVEY
• ERIC REASON
• MICHAEL LORENZO DEAN
• BREONNA TAYLOR
• DION JOHNSON
• GEORGE FLOYD
• TONY MCDADE
• ROBERT JOHNSON JR.
• MCCALE ROSE
• DREASJON REED
• SHAUN FUHR
• MANUEL ELLIS
• DAVID MCATEE
• KAMAL FLOWERS
• MICHAEL “BLUE” THOMAS
• RAYSHARD BROOKS
• CAINE VAN PELT
• TERRON JAMMAL BOONE

Sadly, this is not a comprehensive list—and it continues to grow.

The events of the last two weeks have been overwhelming. What began as a protest in Minneapolis has now spread literally world-wide and shows no sign of lessening. The question for the artist is how to respond to such events (assuming that one is not so traumatized that one cannot act). There have been a number of artistic responses, and each seems valid in its own way.

One could simply post a solid black image on social media or change one’s profile picture to a black image as many have done. As a matter of fact that was what I had thought of doing for this post. It’s simple; it’s elegant. And it’s easy—at least it would have been for me. Then I wouldn’t be sitting here struggling for what to say. And while that is certainly valid for some artists, for me it seem to be a dodge—an easy way to avoid talking about the situation.

One could shut up and listen to the voices of protest. That’s what artists from late night talk show hosts to Instagram star Leslie Jordan did this past week. They turned their microphones and their cameras over to people of color who explained the protests and the reasons from their own points of view. The hosts listened as did their audiences.

Internationally-known graffiti artist Banksy, said that his first response was to shut up and listen as well, but then he decided that “It’s not their problem, it’s mine.” He went on to say the problem was really a white problem that white people need to fix. He also did what he does best. He created art about the situation. It can be seen here along with his full statement, but the three-image Instagram presentation is more powerful.

Other powerful images have quickly appeared on walls all over the world (see here and here) as mural and graffiti artists have memorialized George Floyd and the issues of racial inequality and police brutality.  Perhaps the largest mural was a street-painting commissioned by DC mayor Muriel E. Bowser; it’s so large it can be seen from space.

Some artists, in addition to speaking out, have physically joined the protests. Others have donated to various nonprofits that provide bail relief for protesters. Others have said little and have ostensibly continued with their non-political art-making. And that too is valid.

Yet other artists are quietly absorbing impressions and information and letting it simmer in the cauldron of creativity until they bring forth works that speak to these issues in a more thoughtful way, perhaps in ways that we cannot yet imagine. I am reminded of how the “staunchly apolitical” Jean Anouilh, during the Nazi occupation of France, penned Antigone. Although it presents both sides of the argument over the rejection of authority, most have come to read it as a subversive anti-authoritarian work.

What new art these events may produce is, of course, as yet unknown. Some of it will have to gestate, and that is a good thing; it means that the art that will be made will not be of the shoot-from-the-hip variety, but will be more considered and perhaps speak more powerfully to the issues.

Still, we must beware of the shoulds. There is no “correct” response to recent events. Each of us is an individual artist who can only be concerned with his/her own response and certainly not whether it meets someone else’s criteria. The appropriate response is really an individual decision.