Community Heroes
Unfortunately, the city is known for having a lot of crime and also being a rather impoverished area. The location plays an important part in this piece, because it inspires dignity amongst a community that is often associated with an unpleasant past which has led to negative stereotypes. African American murals often represent a sense of empowerment, pride, or hope, and in this case, Pinkney portrayed very well-known African American historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These two men played a big role in the fight for the end to segregation and for equal rights for African Americans during the civil rights movement from the 1950s to the 1960s, so their portrayal is very significant as it gives the community in Compton a reminder of their prideful history that led them to the present.
Written by Katlyn Hwang, c/o ‘24