black murals

Last June RTA (Cleveland transit) put up art on six bus shelters on East 131st. They put up black American historical figures. Four were national, two were very local (Stokes Brothers, Stephanie Tubbs Jones). Harriet Tubman has had a very detailed mural already, in Bedford; and will soon be on currency. Obama has been touched by graffiti, that is why public art has to be first seen early when it is unveiled; it may not be there later. These decals were the work of Kevin "mr.soul" Harp. The other two are of Malcolm X, who is commonly shown in America now, but was extremely controversial in the 1960s, and Fred Hampton. Well, there was no public objection, it is also an area that no longer has any real white presence.

Recently there has been a movie, Judas and the Black Messiah, about Fred Hampton. Some of that movie was filmed in Cleveland. Still many people do not know about him. Hampton was the leader of the Black Panthers in Illinois, and in the leadership nationally. He was a socialist. The FBI, Chicago Police, and  Cook County State's Attorney's Office had him assassinated in his sleep. He was twenty-one. They feared him for his organising ability. 

A fellow, i know, was in college at the time. He is triggered by any black militancy, or outspokenness. He listens to a lot of non-music radio, including absolute nonsense and worse. One day out of the blue, he says Hampton's execution was the right thing to have been done. I did not pursue that. Anyone who really hates to a frenzy the Black Lives Matter movement, and thinks the trumpster failed putsch was a very small matter, can not be reasoned with. Evidence and rationality mean nothing to those passionately brainwashed in grievance, legitimate or not.

I expect more murals to be put up this summer. There may have been an increase since the coming of the coronavirus, i dunno, just guessing.There are many blank spots in urban areas. It showcases art, and sometimes illustrates something of importance, it gives something of a pride to an area, and it is a whole hell better than graffiti to that marks territory with spray paint in the way a dog does with urine.

Mr. Soul painted this one in 2020 on Union Avenue Cleveland.