The "Black Drawings series" brings together symbols and imagery of neighborhoods in East L.A., which experienced frequent police brutality during Frank Romero's youth. The choice of graphite on paper allows the artist to create stark contrasts and quickly depict scenes that show Romero's dedication to addressing social and political issues, as well as the struggles of the Chicano movement in the 1960s and early 1970s. “It's tragic subject links [Romero’s work] to a tradition of activist history painting that commemorates pivotal events that shaped history,” - E. Carmen Ramos, "Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art," exh cat.