In 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed in America. This Legislation was both legally and morally binding and intended to end discrimination based on race, colour, religion, or ethnic origin.
The piece “1964” is based on the care label from a piece of clothing, which along with various washing symbols also has the instructions to “wash separately”. This makes reference to the “no coloreds” signs and notices of the time, a sentiment that the Civil Rights Act set out to rectify.
The piece also makes reference to cotton and its important historical links to the slave trade.
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