Form and Power: Black Murals in Los Angeles

Beacon of Hope

Elliott Pinkney has always regarded political and social changes as important themes of his artworks. Pinkney’s mural Beacon of Hope was painted on the outside of a community center called City of Youth Foster Care. This mural was restored in 2013 by Patrick Henry Johnson. The mural optimistically envisions a bright future of racial equality, harmony, and self-realization through vivid colors that transition from dark blue on the left of the mural to sky blue on the right where the beacon in the center shines.

Painted outside the community foster care center, the mural encourages the students to be prospective about their future. The African American girl in blue at the very left of the mural holding the lantern underscores the importance of African Americans to the future development of society. “Education” and “Jobs” held by another African American girl suggest that equal treatments in these fields are essential to the bright future of multiethnic young generations, especially African Americans. Doves and red cross on the mural convey the meaning of love, peace, and protection of all human races. Objects and Characters in the light where the beacon shines suggest that our bright future should contain proper education, ample necessities and health care, and racial equality. Although Pinkney’s mural highlights Black subject matter, it also addresses interracial harmony through the depiction of diverse figures working together.

Written by Simon Huang, c/o ‘24

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