Form and Power: Black Murals in Los Angeles

Four Great Moments

Charles Freeman was a self-taught artist with 45 years of public art experience. He created many large portrait paintings including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., hoping to preserve the historical black figures and moments in time with his artwork. Four Great Moments depicts the life and illustrious basketball career of Magic Johnson, a historical sports figure that played for the Los Angeles Lakers and led his team to five championships. Through highlighting four uplifting scenes of Magic Johnson’s life, this mural serves to celebrate Black achievement in sports. Moreover, the mural’s great size (1000 sq. feet) seems to magnify these themes of Black accomplishment.

Sports and racial discrimination have been closely tied in the twentieth century as Black athletes were denigrated for their participation in sports. Sports played a key contributor for African Americans overcoming racial barriers and assimilating into society. At the time this mural was made, race largely determined the support of basketball fans. However, the image of Magic Johnson in this mural, especially with him holding the NBA championship trophy, suggests a hopeful scene of African American accomplishment for his audience. It provides hope that African Americans are gaining respect in society.

This artwork was created in the interior lobby of Magic Johnson Theatres at the Baldwin Hills Shopping Plaza. The retired basketball great, Magic Johnson, continues to be an outspoken advocate for the Black community today, especially with topics of HIV prevention and testing in the Black community.

Written by Anthony Chang, c/o ‘24

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