The mural was commissioned by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, the Houston Society for Change, and 88 C.H.U.M.P., a non-profit social activism organization created by Floyd’s football teammates.]]>
This street art piece is a mural dedicated to George Floyd, made on February 7, 2021. George Floyd was an African American man who was killed after a Minneapolis police encounter where an officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest causing his death. The event was captured on video and sparked international outrage and protest against the police interaction, oppression, and killing of people of color in the United States. This piece is located in Houston, Texas outside of Jack Yates High School which Floyd attended. It was commissioned by Harris County Commissioner, Rodney Ellis, and nonprofit 88 C.H.U.M.P. (an organization created by Floyd’s childhood friends). This mural consists of the words “BLACK LIVES MATTER” followed by Floyd’s number 88 jersey in the school’s trademark red and yellow colors. The piece is painted on the street and spans about two city blocks. The artist, Jonah Elijah mentions that this mural was an action of the community and for the community, in addition to national representation. It not only acts as a message for Black Lives Matter, but the mural also serves as a connection between the people of the community. This mural also acts as a message outside of the community by being a symbol of the need for action in the country and awareness of the people of color who are dying because of unjust law enforcement. "George Floyd's life mattered. Just like Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, and the countless other lives we have lost just in the last few years to police violence," Ellis said, "As a son of Houston's historically black neighborhood of Third Ward, George Floyd is a part of our local black history, which is why it was necessary to honor his memory with this piece of art during Black History Month.” After its creation, it was picked up by many news organizations and there have been no reports of removal or vandalism on the work as of now. After the piece was made the county commissioners voted to allocate $25 million for programs in reforming legal system methodologies. 

Citations: 

O'Kane, Caitlin. “Mural Dedicated to George Floyd and Black Lives Matter Painted Outside His High School.” CBS News. CBS Interactive, February 8, 2021. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-floyd-black-lives-matter-mural/ 

Turner, Re'Chelle. “Yates High School Graduate Bringing Black Lives Matter Mural to Third Ward Community.” KPRC. KPRC Click2Houston, February 5, 2021. https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/02/05/jack-yates-graduate-bringing-black-lives-matter-mural-to-third-ward-community/ 

Alexander, Author: Chloe. “Giant Street Mural Dedicated to George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Movement Painted in Front of Yates HS.” khou.com, February 7, 2021. https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/george-floyd-mural-black-lives-matter-yates-high-school/285-22e6f59e-5097-4651-927e-820537009b33 

Researched by Sawyer Hammond


Image URL

News Coverage by CBS News and Narcity

Tweet by Veronica Davis on February 08, 2021

Facebook post by Houston Independent School District on February 06, 2021

]]>
]]> 2021-02-07]]>
Photographer: CBSDFW.COM from CNN]]>
Stephen Larrick, Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>
The city of Independence Heights was the first African American incorporated city in Texas when it was founded in 1915. Located a few miles north of Downtown Houston, families were drawn to the location by the opportunity to own their own homes. Since then, it has relinquished its incorporation and become part of the larger city of Houston, as city limits have spread over the past hundred years. Through all these changes, the citizens of the area remain in touch with their heritage as descendants of city founders and proud African Americans. 

During the summer of 2020, the nation was in uproar, calling for changes to be made in the way African-American citizens were treated. With the rise of street art and murals addressing these issues, the Independence Heights community was not to be left out.  

In June 2020, Independence Heights’ Redevelopment Council director Tanya Debose reached out to the director of the University of Houston Community Design Resource Center Susan Rogers in order to see what could be done. Together, they planned to make a statement by painting a street art mural on Link Road in Independence Heights right off Main Street. To accomplish this, they enlisted the help of local artist Ange Hillz. Ange Hillz is a prolific artist born in Rwanda, who immigrated to the US. A work of his, depicting George Floyd, was featured on the cover of Time magazine on May 10, 2021. In the days leading up to Juneteenth in 2020, the painting of Link Road began.  

Spelled out on the street was the message “BLACK TOWNS MATTER”. Being the first African-American town in Texas is a point of pride for the community. To honor this, within the “O” of the original work was a portrait of George O. Burgess, the first mayor of the incorporated city. Today the work is upheld and remains a symbol and statement of the community to all who see it.  

Researched by the Urban Art Mapping Team


Image URL

News Coverage by ABC13, Houston Chronicle, and Rice Design Alliance

Tweet by Black Towns Matter on October 5, 2020

Facebook post by Independence Heights Neighborhood on June 21, 2020

Instagram post by Random Rules Studios on June 22, 2020]]>
2020-06-19]]>
Photographer: Fred Agho]]>
Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>
2020]]> Photographer: Taylor Buehler]]> 2021-05-01]]> Photographer: Taylor Buehler]]> 2021-05-01]]> 2021-05-15]]> Photographer: Taylor Buehler]]> 2021-05-01]]> Photographer: Taylor Buehler ]]> 2020-06-02]]> Photographer: Taylor Buehler]]> 2020-06-10]]>