“I only wanted to hear you not talking.”

“This kid roasting his teacher for lying about Christopher Columbus is the greatest thing you'll read today.” via Very Smart Brothas; The Root.

“I only wanted to hear you not talking” is a large typographic piece that captures the sharp wit and unfiltered truth-telling of a child’s perspective. Rendered as three rectangular wooden panels with the text cut out as negative shapes, the work transforms a poignant critique into a bold visual statement.

The phrase originates from a child’s journal entry, roasting a teacher for perpetuating false narratives about Christopher Columbus. It is both a biting observation and a profound demand for accountability, resonating with broader conversations about truth, power, and whose voices are centered in history and education.

By presenting the text as negative space, the piece underscores the absence of truth in the stories we’ve been told, challenging viewers to confront the silences and omissions within dominant narratives. The stark materiality of wood and the precision of the cut text evoke permanence, while the negative space invites reflection on what is seen versus what is intentionally left out.

This work celebrates the clarity and courage of youthful honesty, serving as both a critique and a call to question authority and the stories we inherit. It is a reminder of the power of language to disrupt, challenge, and provoke meaningful change.