Help Keep the Movement Alive !

We invite you to bid on a powerful original artwork donated by artist Rodney Grainger, MFA, Artist, Abolitionist — a visual statement on racial justice, history, and the ongoing reality of mass incarceration.

The piece features Frederick Douglass alongside present-day prisoners, drawing a direct line between America’s history of slavery and today’s incarceration system. It challenges us to reflect on how far we’ve come, and how far we still must go. This artwork is more than a painting; it is a conversation starter, a reflection of justice, and a call for change.

Grainger has been focusing his work on racial justice for over 25 years. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama during the late 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s, he witnessed firsthand the deep inequalities between Black and white communities. Those lived experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to using art as resistance, truth-telling, and advocacy.

Bid on the ONLY full-sized, framed print of the original 22x28 inch painting!

All proceeds from this auction will benefit the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s End School To Prison Pipeline Program and Youth Civil Rights Summer Camp, helping us continue educating, empowering, and developing future leaders.

Auction Goal: $1,500
This is the target we aim to raise directly through bids on the artwork. Every bid goes toward funding youth civil rights education and advocacy programs.

Total Fundraising Goal: $5,000
This reflects our broader goal to fully support AADM’s ongoing work, including the End the School-to-Prison Pipeline (ESTTP) Program and Youth Civil Rights Summer Camp scholarships.

What this means for you as a bidder or donor:
Your support helps close the gap between limited funding and the real cost of sustaining year-round youth programming, advocacy, and civil rights education. Every bid, donation, and share directly strengthens our ability to keep these programs accessible to young people in our community.

Your bid is more than a purchase — it is an investment in justice, youth leadership, and community empowerment.

Bid. Share. Support the Movement.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM) is dedicated to advancing racial and social justice by addressing discrimination through education, storytelling, and activism. Through workshops, programs, advocacy, and community engagement, AADM works to empower individuals with the tools and support needed to protect their civil and human rights.

Founded in January 2016 by Mokah-Jasmine Johnson and Knowa D. Johnson, AADM was created in response to repeated allegations of discrimination by bars and businesses in downtown Athens. Since then, the organization has worked tirelessly to break down racial barriers and advance equity in Athens and beyond.

Art Auction: Image of Frederick Douglass. Chains Then & Now

Bid on the ONLY full-sized, framed print of the original 22x28 inch painting!