Form and Power: Black Murals in Los Angeles

Return to the Light

Return to the Light by Charles Freeman is a mural located on the outside wall of a retirement home in Highland Park. Visible from the Pasadena Freeway, thousands of people drive by it every day. The mural is focused on themes regarding social issues, specifically the killing of young innocent people, treatment of the elderly, and homelessness. Freeman depicts these themes through various scenes around the outside of the mural: a young boy with a gunshot wound, a homeless man desperately searching for work, and multiethnic seniors with detailed facial expressions showing a somber look in their eyes. There is also the cruel irony of a homeless person sleeping on a bench advertising “affordable retirement living.” A former member of the Black Panther Party, Freeman believes in learning, growing and evolving. This is why his mural also features a shaman in the center under the shining light, as well as the spirits of two Chicano figures reveling in a divine light, to symbolize strength, courage, and hope.

Since its completion in 1994, this mural has experienced significant damages due to vandalism and environmental factors such as UV light. As a result, artist Charles Freeman partnered with the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) to restore the mural. Together, they removed significant amounts of graffiti, repainted damaged areas, and applied a MuralShield coating to help protect the mural from future damage. These restorations enlivened the mural to make it more enjoyable for commuters for the decades to come.

Written by Thomas Bulow, c/o ‘24

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