About

Mission

  • To provide direct financial support to queer and trans prisoner-artists
  • To educate queer and trans people on the “outside” about prison issues

Project Background

Black & Pink Art is a project of BlackandPink.org which is a blog about topics related to queer and trans prisoners, connects queer and trans folx on the “outside” to queer and trans folx on the “inside” (in prison) seeking pen-pals, and distributes a monthly newsletter to queer and trans prisoners, comprised mainly of poems and articles contributed by prisoners them selves.

Most of the prisoner-artists are listed on the BlackandPink.org prisoner pen-pal list.  You can find out more about them by reading their bios.  Remember–we never ask why a person is in prison; we are here to support people who really need it.

How Black & Pink Art Works

Black & Pink Art is volunteer run, based in Boston, MA.  We build trusting relationships with prisoner-artists, encourage them to send us their artwork, and market it directly to queer and trans folx on the “outside” through this website, at events, and through displays.

Prisoner-artists are provided seed money in order to purchase art supplies and mail us their artwork.  The necessary seed money is added onto the prisoner-artist’s asking price listed on the website.  You’ll find that the prisoner’s asking prices are very reasonable.  They will receive all of the asking price through a deposit into their accounts.  A $0.99 fee is added to each order to cover Pay-Pal fees.  Separate donations are used to keep Black & Pink Art running.

Funds they receive will directly support their survival in prison.  Depending on the prison, some need money in their  commissary accounts to purchase essential items like toiletries.  Some prisoners find the food served in the mess hall so intolerable that they wouldn’t eat if it wasn’t for the food they can purchase at the commissary.  Even prisoners who work only earn pennies an hour (because the 13th amendment did not outlaw slavery in prisons); $0.44 stamps and envelopes are luxuries.

Other Ways You Can Help

The crew behind Black & Pink Art is based in Boston, MA.  We welcome passionate prison abolitionists from all around to spread the word about the project.  Get in touch with us for more information!