Black Lives Matter Movement Takes on Murals

MURAL ON THE WALL OF DVA PERCENT BY CHRIS OLDHAM IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHERS

Some murals have been popping up around Kansas City and they each depict a different version of the same message. These murals are inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Several local artists worked on each mural, which were all completed within June.

“I hope in doing this my friends and I have made some kind of positive influence however small it may be,” wrote Chris Oldham, one of the mural artists. He collaborated with a few others to create a mural on the wall of DVA Percent, a store in the Westport area.

In big letters, the mural says, “Silence is Violence,” and shows victims of police brutality including George Floyd, whose name and face are front and center. Around the depiction of George Floyd are the names of some victims fromKansas City including Terrance Bridges, Cameron Lamb, Donnie Sanders, and Ryan Stokes. This mural helps to show that the issue is local as well.

“[It’s] a mural to inspire activism against police violence and a lack of accountability in law enforcement,”says Oldham.

Another of the murals depict Michael Wheeler, superman of Kansas City, in front of a police line and a portrait of James Baldwin, novelist and activist. This muralwas created by two local artists, Thomas Richmond and Alex Eickhoff.

One last mural painted by the end of June was created by Rodney and Anita Easterwood, a father and daughter. Thismural depicts a per-son writing different words in chalk:“grow,” “learn,” “inspire,” and “breathe.” The person in the mural also has a shadow with a graduation cap. This mural is more focused on the youth and their future.

Each mural sheds light on the issues and shows support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

*Published in the Call Newspaper July 10 Issue*