Artist Statement-Eva and Madeleine-Michael's Office

In this piece, The line down the middle represents the different sides (North and South.)  On the Southern side (left,) there is a white hand that is holding a gun.  That represents the Confederate soldiers.  On the Northern side (right,) there is a white hand, and a hand of an African American.  Free African Americans and runaway slaves wanted to fight for the Union.  They thought that they could earn their rights and equality in life if they fought in the war.  The Union also wanted them to fight because it would make their numbers greater.  If the Northern side hadn't made it so that African Americans could fight, they might not be able to as much in the present