What does 'Freedom' and 'Justice' mean to you?

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, we explored the meaning of Justice and Freedom for different communities; justice for the environment, the vulnerable, and the oppressed. Freedom for the rights of women, the right to vote, and who to love. As Arab-American female founders, we wanted the launch of our Arabic Calligraphy T-shirts to celebrate justice and freedom for all.

JUSTICE

JUSTICE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
A group of volunteers of all ages come together to clean up trash from the shores of their beloved beaches. Eight million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean every year. They bring justice to the environment by reducing plastic pollution in our oceans.

Photo Credit: Jessica Griffin, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

JUSTICE FOR THE INNOCENT
Terrance Lewis, a man from Philadelphia, finally got justice when he was exonerated and released from prison after a wrongful murder conviction. For 21 years, Lewis was incarcerated even though he was innocent. Now, he has been financially compensated and is happy that he gets to pursue an education without limitations.

JUSTICE FOR THE DISABLED
Last month marked 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the fight for justice is far from over. The Ford Foundation recently feature a range of perspectives and voices addressing this through their campaign ‘There’s No Justice Without Disability’ on their website. Learn more about the disability rights movement by watching the documentary, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution; that tells the story of a community that fostered the American disability rights movement in the 1970s. From what started as friendships made at a summer camp for youth with disabilities led to a movement of activists that mobilized a fight for justice and change in perspective of the rights of those with disabilities, both nationally and globally.

FREEDOM

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ”Living in Cairo over the last few years and being a woman, I have adapted to the hustle and bustle of the noisy, crowded city. During these times of lockdown, while I miss the energy of the city, I do not miss feeling uncomfortable when faced with harassment in some public areas. I have grown to not take for granted the pleasure of walking down a quiet street unrecognized or noticed. I am back in the U.S., and I took photos from my nature walk near my home in Alaska. Freedom for me, is the ability to enjoy the great outdoors, to take a walk and simply take in the sights and sounds of nature.” - Sarah Hayes

Painting Credit: Mickey Demas, “SAY HIS NAME”, acrylic on canvas, 2020

FREEDOM TO CREATE Mickey Demas, an artist and industrial designer, was commissioned by BET to create an image that represented the pain felt by the black community following George Floyd’s murder. The young painter dug deep and exercised her artistic and creative freedom of speech through acrylics and incredible symbolism. She opened up conversations that made some uncomfortable, but voiced the reality of many.

Photo Credit: Linda McQueen (Vogue, and Insider)

FREEDOM TO LOVE Kerry-Anne and Michael Gordon, the now-famous Philadelphian couple, got married on June 6th. Their plan was to get married outside The Logan Hotel lawn hours before Black Lives Matter marches took place. That quickly changed when Kerry-Anne went back to retrieve her bouquet. On her way back, she found herself surrounded by protestors. Michael Gordon looked for his bride amongst the crowd, and they parted “like the Red Sea,” leading him to the love of his life. The two held hands and raised their fists to the sky, celebrating their freedom to love and the movement itself. We celebrate them, and the freedom to love who you want, wherever you want. - Danyah Al Natour

As Arab-American female founders, we wanted our Arabic Calligraphy T-shirts to celebrate justice and freedom for all. Products with purpose.