In observance of March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Akonadi Foundation is delighted to present the 2025 Racial Justice Poster, “The Collective Consciousness: Rooted Together,” by Zoë Boston.
Akonadi Foundation distributed our first Racial Justice poster in 2008 to commemorate March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day honors the Sharpeville massacre on March 21, 1960, when the South African anti-apartheid movement rose up to resist `pass’ laws. As part of the government’s efforts to segregate and control Black South Africans, these laws required Black South Africans to carry passbooks, or identity cards, at all times. On this day in the Sharpeville township, as movement leaders, elders, and children gathered in peaceful protest, police opened fire and killed 69 people, including 10 children.
This year’s poster explores the importance of connection, interdependence, and belonging- values that have exemplified Akonadi’s work over the last 25 years. In Zoë’s words, “This artwork speaks to the truth that what one person lacks, another can provide. It is a call to come to our neighbors with trust and generosity, fostering a world rooted in grace and truth, where we grow stronger together.”
Help us spread the word about the poster through your social media channels. Please share a picture of yourself with the poster, using the hashtag #RJPP25 and tag us on Twitter/X at @akonadi_oakland and Facebook and Instagram at @AkonadiFoundation.
This piece celebrates the beauty of unity within diversity and the boundless possibilities that arise when we honor and embrace our differences.”
Artist Statement
This piece celebrates the beauty of unity within diversity and the boundless possibilities that arise when we honor and embrace our differences. The cascading waterfall symbolizes our collective consciousness, a shared source of wisdom, strength, and abundance that flows when we come together. Each stream represents the vast and unique cultures we come from- each carrying its own innate knowledge and truth, blending harmoniously to nourish and uplift us all.
The oak tree and California poppies are a heartfelt tribute to the deep-rooted culture and natural beauty of Oakland and the Bay Area. The oak stands as a symbol of resilience and strength, while the vibrant poppies evoke the enduring spirit and richness of the land. Together, they reflect the interconnectedness and grace of a community thriving in its diversity.
The purple border encircling the piece serves as an arc of a portal, opening a gateway to the possibilities we can achieve as a connected human race. The poster invites viewers to envision a world where we transcend the forces that attempt to divide us- be they race, culture, or any other difference- and instead find strength in the shared human experience.
This artwork speaks to the truth that what one person lacks, another can provide. It is a call to come to our neighbors with trust and generosity, fostering a world rooted in grace and truth, where we grow stronger together. Despite the many trials that have threatened to tear us apart, I hold steadfast in the belief that unity will prevail. Through embracing all that is different about us, we can create a future of abundance and harmony, grounded in love and mutual respect.
About Zoë Boston
Zoë Boston is an award-winning, multifaceted artist of West African descent who has been creating and using her voice through performance and visual arts since she was a child. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Upstate New York, she now resides in Oakland. While Zoë has been drawing for as long as she can remember, she did not begin painting until she returned to the West Coast in 2014. Zoë is dedicated to being authentic, which in turn transforms her work into visual and sonic waves of passion expressed on walls and canvas, as well as through music and movement. Her inspirations come from God, nature, life, love, music, the amplification of the underserved voices, and the journeys that connect them all.
As a lead artist at The Bay Area Mural Program and in her blossoming career, Zoë continues to push her artistry in new ways that reflect her growth, her drive, and her desire to be a vessel that brings light and life into this realm. Zoë believes there is a unique power in thriving as who you were created to be, because that power will permeate everything that you do and create. Her identity as an African American, left-handed, and neurodivergent woman profoundly influences her perspective of the visual world and shapes her creative process. It serves as a source of strength and inspiration in her quest to challenge norms, break down barriers, and foster greater understanding and empathy. She embraces unconventional perspectives and nonlinear approaches to storytelling, inviting viewers to engage with her artwork on multiple levels and uncover new meanings with each encounter. Through her public and private murals, she strives to create engaging visual narratives that resonate with both residents and passersby alike, fostering a deeper connection to the landscape. She values representation, inclusivity, and diversity in her artwork. Two of her most recent mural projects are “Lovely day” in the Fruitvale district and “Welcome Home,” which is visible from Highway 24. In them Zoë evokes a sense of place and belonging while celebrating the city’s rich history and diverse narratives with a hint of surrealism that leaves the viewer with a sense of awe and wonder.
Zoë is an Emmy-Accredited artist who was selected to exhibit her work at the prestigious De Young museum in 2020. She has also exhibited with Macy’s Union Square,The Battery Club, AOTAD, and Joyce Gordon Gallery throughout the years. In 2024 she was the first African-American visual artist to exhibit at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley California. Learn more and follow her on Instagram at @zoeadiahboston.