On Sept. 19 the first Black Lives Matter mural was painted in New Haven, Conn. It is located on Bassett Street and is about 277 feet long and 22 feet wide.
The mural was painted by Kwadwo Adae, a visual artist and muralist living in New Haven. “The area of Bassett Street was chosen by Black Lives Matter New Haven,” Adae said. “We wanted to make sure that this message was in the community first”
The style of this piece was created with the intention of reflecting the surrounding community as well.
“Because so many of them have been done before I wanted our city to stand out in a different way. So, I did a graffiti tag style, which I haven’t really seen anywhere else.” “It’s a unique style for our unique small city”
To Black Lives Matter New Haven and Adae, the mural is more than just art.
“I think it’s very important that this message gets out, especially in light of the Breonna Taylor ruling,” Adae said. “A sleeping black woman can’t be killed without discourse from this country. That’s exactly the message that we’re trying to drag home, and still it gets misconstrued.”
Alongside this message, Adae and the community of Bassett st. hope for a future where nobody is left out.
“I think it’s important to remember that the success of some people cannot be dependent on the oppression of others, no matter who it is you’re oppressing. That is not the way to find success for people. You can’t do it that way. That is not productive.”
Don Sawyer, the vice president of Equity and Inclusion at Quinnipiac University, says the mural is just the beginning of some of the change that needs to be made in the community.
“I think the paintings are a form of activism. Sawyer said. “I think the paintings are a way to say that we’re here. We’re connected to a larger movement. We too are involved in this process. But then, the other part of it is that it’s not enough. Not saying what the artist did was not enough, what I’m saying is we can’t stop there.”
“The painting is only a part of the process that still needs to happen” Sawyer said, in reference to the changes that still need to be made.
“It’s similar to when people post ‘Black Lives Matter” to social media. It’s similar to the NBA painting it on their basketball courts or when people have it on the back of their uniforms. Yes, it’s informing people that you are supportive of the movement, but what else comes from that? I think it’s a great symbol, but I also think we have to ask, ‘what is the next step? What can come out of this?’”
Sawyer is no stranger to controversies on campuses. His role as Vice President of equity and inclusion means it’s his job to find the most peaceful and effective way of diffusing tense situations.
“I think racial literacy is important,” Sawyer said, in reference to the question of expanding your worldview.
“With any symbol, what makes a symbol important is that there’s meaning attached to it. So when we think about the statement of Black Lives Matter, for some people when they see that it’s solidifying the fact that they matter. Whether it’s on campus or in the work that I do in the community, everyone wants to know that they’re seen, that they’re heard, and that they matter. So when artists are doing this, this is the language of the artist. Similarly, to people in this community who go out and see these things and hear these things, hopefully that’s not something that’s just a chant.”
Sawyer also explains how the message could be seen by those of various cultures.
“People are seeing us and hearing us and they’re saying that we matter. So it could be a source of pride,” Sawyer said.
“But it’s also a reminder to people who don’t identify as black to hopefully focus on the plight of these communities specifically who have been marginalized. Focus on their voices. Understand that there are policies that are in place and practices that have happened that have created an environment where people actually have to proclaim that black lives matter. People have to proclaim it because people are feeling like people don’t believe it.”
Sawyer also explained what the younger generation of students can do to begin this process of change.
“Part of what students can do is have conversations. I think there’s a conversation that students need to have about symbols and what they mean” Sawyer said.
“I think some people are tired of seeing “Black Lives Matter” everywhere. Or, some people say, ‘all lives matter.’ Some people are seeing it and saying, ‘yes, I’m glad that they’re posting this, it’s important.’ So there are so many people looking at the same symbol but taking different things away from it.”
In reference to what schools and administrations can do to get these conversations started Sawyer said, “If you don’t create those spaces for people to have intentional dialogue, I don’t think anything changes, specifically when we’re thinking about a college campus.”
“With people who are reacting negatively to it, we’re having a conversation with them to really explain what it means and why it’s a statement,” Sawyer explained.
“When people are reacting positively to it, they understand why people may be frustrated by seeing it. They understand what people mean when they say, ‘all lives matter.’ Because there are assumptions that are made when people are saying that. ‘Are you saying it from a place of hate? Are you saying it from ignorance?’ and if so how do we get to a point where we’re able to have a conversation and unpack it. Because I think that’s what we should be doing at an institution of higher education.”
Sawyer also brings up a good point about the content and conduct of these conversations.
“One of the things we’ve fallen away from as a nation is the ability to argue,” Sawyer said.
“When I say ‘argue’ I don’t mean just scream at each other and not listen. We have arguments based on facts that you support and you have a discussion and it’s not that you have to agree. You don’t have to agree. But, hear the other point of view. Understand the other perspective of that person or what they’re coming from. How their experiences in this world their world view. I think once we get to do that and we understand each other a bit differently, again you still may not agree, but you can understand how or why that person views the world in the way that they do.”
New Haven local Thomas Wiggins, 32, weighed in on his thoughts of the piece in his community.
“I think we needed that,” Wiggins said. “There’s a lot of controversy, and right now some people just don’t feel like Black Lives Matter. And we’re not just saying ‘only black lives matter.’”
In reference to the importance of racial literacy Wiggins said, “I think it’s very important. I think it should be taught in the school systems now, because people are misunderstanding that racism is a real thing that’s been going on forever. I think the more awareness we bring to it and the more we talk about it, I think we can really change some minds and hearts, because that’s where I think it starts.”
The city of New Haven has plans to put in another 7 paintings on various locations throughout the city. The next mural will be painted on Oct. 3 on Temple st. in New Haven.