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Form and Power: Black Murals in Los Angeles

African American Careers

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African American Careers - Part 1 African American Careers is a street mural created by an unknown mural artist situated on the wall of a building at Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena, California. It presents Black pride and accomplishment throughout history as hall marks of the African American people. It offers hope and a future for African Americans under oppression and the scrutiny of society. The mural’s style and position of each African Achievement segment matches the depiction of the Sun. The African American writer with bright, golden yellow circle shines rays of light outwards. Each ray of light showcasing how African Americans have succeeded in society and what they achieved. The warm colors add into the hopeful feel, matching the warmth that a Sun provides as it lights your path to your future. One ray of light shines upon an African American cinematographer directing his own movie, one depicts a dedicated and frontline scientist, and one shows the brave mission of going to the space frontier. The mural is a statement of the future and of African lives that they can take the future with their own hands and strive towards their dreams even in predominantly white careers.

In addition to its representation of African American achievement, it also stands for the potential of freedom and diversity that African Americans can succeed in any field and even ones that discriminate against African Americans such as movie and cinematography. In the 1980s and 1990s in which African Americans directed movies fought against the stereotype that Hollywood has enforced upon Blacks in movies. Careers of writing, science, cinematography, and space endeavor were seen as “white” careers. There was an underlying sense that African American couldn’t partake in these “advanced” careers and were excluded and discriminated in these fields. However there was a African American flourishing in those fields, combating their stereotypes. The astronaut depicted likely a depiction of the first African American to go to space in 1983, Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. In all, this mural is a stand and monument to African American achievement recognized in society as well as an everlasting hope of all that African Americans can accomplish in all fields to this day.

Written by Jeffrey You, c/o '24

Written by Jeffrey You, C/O 2024
African American Careers - Part 2 African American Careers is located at Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena, California on the exterior of a stucco building. This mural was created for the Black community in the neighborhood to be inspired by the Black achievements. However, the African American population in Pasadena has greatly decreased since the mural was made in 1991.

The mural depicts Black figures succeeding in different careers such as filmmaking, practicing law, astronauts, and scientists. Each of these jobs is represented through individual scenes that are demarcated by white lines. The lines that separate them work to reinforce a narrative of individual achievements and growth. The lines and shapes appear as rays of light that emanate from a “sun”-the yellow scene with the lawyer in the lower right. This appearance of “sun” represents hope to uplift the community. Each of the professionals are gathered together on the mural, which evokes a sense of community that is defined by individual success. The mural is there to inspire the community, and boosts confidence in viewers, especially in young viewers by creating a clear picture of what they can achieve through hard work.

African American Careers shares much in common with Harlem Renaissance muralism. The primary thematic similarity is that each emphasizes the uplifting representation of Black people who have the capacity to revitalize knowledge and culture. In this modern mural, Black professionals are pioneers blazing a trail for other members of their community. It depicts what African Americans have already accomplished and what they will accomplish in the future. Professions such as law, science, medicine, film have historically excluded and even actively harmed Black communities, so the idea that African Americans are now gaining more representation and prestige in these fields holds promise for further social change.

Written by Farhana Akther, c/o ‘24