Unity & Consciousness Art Beach Towel | Hotep Creations

The Story Behind The Hue Man Chess Game

The Hue Man Chess Game is a colorful blend of art and reality created by the artist Conrad. At close observation, you'll discover a chess game being played between a light-skinned couple and a dark-skinned couple — and they're playing with real people as chess pieces. This powerful metaphor reveals the divisions within communities of color: light-skinned against dark-skinned, "good hair" versus "bad hair," East Coast versus West Coast, and even conflicts between African Americans and those from the Motherland.

But look closer. While these couples play each other on the small chessboard, they themselves are being played on a much bigger chessboard that they're sitting on. The artwork asks: who's really moving the pieces? Who benefits from our division? And most importantly — are we even aware we're in the game?

Decoding the Symbolism: A Guided Tour

The Hourglass & Sleeping Figures:

To the right of the small chess game sits an hourglass, signifying that our time is running out while we remain mentally asleep. Notice the two brothers sleeping near the hourglass — a stark reminder that while we slumber in unconsciousness, precious time slips away. Every moment spent in division is a moment we can never reclaim.

The Figure Carrying a Body Down the Stairs:

To the far left, a figure carries a dead body down the stairs. This haunting image shows that we are losing people — our brothers and sisters are dying while we're so busy playing each other that we don't even notice. Violence, systemic oppression, preventable deaths — all happening in our peripheral vision while we remain distracted by manufactured conflicts.

The Infinite Hallway:

In the upper right corner, you'll see a hallway where the chess game appears to go on forever. This represents the endless cycle of division and conflict — a game with no winners, only perpetual players. Without conscious intervention, this pattern continues across generations, trapping each new wave in the same destructive dynamics.

The Doorway to Liberation:

In the middle of the back wall sits a doorway where a couple stands outside with grass and a pyramid visible — representing a higher level of consciousness. They're walking away from the game. This is the most crucial element: the decision is ours. We can keep playing the game forever, or we can step off the board into our own world through the mental doorway. We do have a choice.

The Ancestors Watching:

At the top of the stairs, two ancestors look down to see how we're going to represent ourselves. They wait patiently for us to reclaim knowledge of self and do great things as a people. The pyramids beside them remind us that our ancestors built wonders not only with advanced knowledge but also with unity and a strong sense of community. They're watching to see if we'll remember who we are.

The Actual Chess Strategy:

Chess players will notice there's an actual strategy to the pieces on the small board — a real game is taking place. This attention to detail underscores that these divisions aren't random or accidental. There are calculated moves being made, strategies being executed, and we're the pieces being moved.

The Message: Unity as the Path Forward

The bottom line is clear: if people of color would only unite, we would be in a position to reclaim our glorious past and rightful place throughout the world and in world history. We could be viewed as who we truly are — the mothers and fathers of civilization — rather than the negative images that have been created of us.

Africa is the birthplace of humanity. Black people are the originators of civilization itself. Yet we've been conditioned to fight each other over superficial differences while those who benefit from our division maintain their positions of power. This artwork calls us to wake up, step off the board, and walk through the doorway to consciousness.

A Beach Towel That Starts Conversations

This isn't just art you hang on a wall — it's art you carry with you. When you bring this towel to the beach, pool, or park, people will ask about it. And when they do, you'll have the opportunity to share a message that could shift someone's entire perspective.

Casual beach conversations transform into dialogues about unity, consciousness, and healing. You become a messenger for awakening, using beautiful art as the entry point. This towel doesn't just dry you off — it opens minds and hearts.

Premium Beach Towel Features

The Ancient Wisdom Quote

At the heart of this artwork's philosophy is an ancient proverb: "He that knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is asleep, awaken him."

This wisdom captures the central challenge of our time. Many people don't recognize the systems that control them, the divisions that weaken them, or the power they possess. They don't know what they don't know — and that unconsciousness keeps them trapped in the game. The first step to liberation is awakening to the reality of our situation. Only then can we make the conscious choice to step off the board.

Care Instructions

Washing: Machine wash cold with similar colors on a gentle cycle to preserve the vibrant artwork.
Drying: Tumble dry on low or hang to dry for best results.
Important: Do not bleach or dry clean. Avoid fabric softeners which can reduce absorbency.