Black Soldiers Jumping Off the Boat

Artwork Details and Purchase Information
Original artwork is ink on 11 × 15 inch archival watercolor paper, framed and matted in a standard black frame
Giclée print is an 11 × 15 inch archival watercolor paper reproduction, framed and matted in a standard black frame, and part of a limited edition of 7
Originals, if available, and giclée prints may be purchased in person or directly at LakeemWilson.com
Orders ship within 5 to 7 business days
Local pickup can be scheduled after purchase
 
Black Soldiers Jumping Off the Boat
 
This illustration captures a charged moment of movement and resolve as Black soldiers leap from a military vessel into uncertain waters. The figures are compressed together, bodies overlapping, creating a sense of urgency and collective action. Each gesture feels decisive. There is no hesitation. Only momentum.
 
The drawing speaks to service, sacrifice, and contradiction. These soldiers move in unison, yet each carries their own weight of history. The boat becomes both a point of departure and a symbol of obligation, while the water below represents risk, transition, and the unknown. The scene holds tension between duty to country and the lived reality of Black bodies navigating systems that have not always protected them.
 
Within Life in Black Ink, this work documents Black presence in military history not as background, but as the focus. It honors courage while quietly questioning what it means to fight for freedom abroad while still seeking it at home. The illustration preserves a fleeting but powerful moment where history, motion, and identity converge.