What if the world was changing all around you and you could catch the most exciting, inspirational, and beautiful bits on canvas? While facing change and challenge, artist Alma Thomas found beauty all around. This article takes three views of her life and art to uncover surprising complexity in her vibrant paintings.
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![A black ink on a red-orange poster board with a small picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the top left and Joseph Lowery at the top right. The poster reads: [SCLC / INJUSTICE / Anywhere... / a threat to / JUSTICE / EVERYWHERE / M. L. KING].](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/fGnYrbbEag75Psm_tcVcQXwyg9Y=/400x300/filters:no_upscale():focal(350x417:351x418)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/ab/fa/abfad35f-1831-4f62-b159-5cf422d0dbfb/nmaahc-994f4b3172042_1001.jpg)
