The Wide Awakes Eye Turned Abolitionist Politics Into Civic Action
Artist Hank Willis Thomas argues that the Wide Awakes eye, a graphic emblem of an antislavery political movement in 1860, should be understood as a call to civic attention rather than a decorative symbol. In the Aspen Institute Arts Program’s Art of America series, Thomas traces how the eye worked through parades, banners, uniforms, and public spectacle, linking visual form to political action. He connects that history to current debates over being “woke,” asking how awareness becomes civic participation.
The Aspen Institute·Jul 2, 2026·5 min read
