Using the art and life of Thornton Dial as a point of departure, this public forum, held on April 8, 2011, explored the status of African American artists within the mainstream contemporary art world, an examination that reflects broader social, economic, and political “hard truths” within society at large. It explored the relevance of black creative expression to issues of social justice across racial boundaries. Theaster Gates is an Installation and performance artist from the University of Chicago. Other forum speakers included: Joanne Cubbs- Introduction Greg Tate Fred Moten Julian Bond Franklin Sirmans