Persist

"Persist"

This mural piece is a memorial and tribute to several black women who have helped shape equality in the workplace, schools, and legal systems across Oregon and America alike. Lucille Bridges and her daughter, Ruby Bridges (both on the leftmost side of the painting) broke the race barrier on November 14, 1960 in New Orleans, Louisiana by being the first black student to desegregate an all-white school. The public education system had been primarily segregated for white and non-white students up until this point in the 1960's and William Frantz Public School ushered in a new wave of desegregated education following the 1954 the Brown v. Board of Education case. Enraged local whites moved out of town and those who stayed harassed Ruby and her mother to the point local police Marshals were required to escort them to and from school. Outside of school, Ruby’s immediate family faced fallout and disdain from their community, losing their jobs and even property because of the desegregation crisis. Ruby and her mother, however persisted going to Frantz, and now, children all over the United States can go to school with students from all different nationalities and backgrounds. Lucille Bridges, passed away after successfully giving her four children the education she was denied as a youth due to helping her parents work in the fields immediately after 8th grade. Lucille Bridges passed away of cancer in her New Orleans home in November of 2020.

Senator Margaret Louise Carter, (on the rightmost side of the painting) is the first African American woman elected to the Oregon State Legislature also worked to change the way of life for Blacks and all Oregonians. Senator Carter, who was also born in Louisiana, traveled to Portland with her family in the 1960's, received her degrees from Portland State University and Oregon State University and later joined the Oregon Senate in 1983 only to endure harsh racism and sexism from her comrades. But, she persisted through the insults and as a senate member she pushed a pro-education agenda that included the creation of regional skills-training centers as well as summer programs for kids. During her 23 years of service, she also passed a bill declaring Martin Luther King Jr. Day to be an official holiday in Oregon. Senator Carter is currently retired from her senate duties, but remains an active community member, behind the scenes supporting colleagues in sports, politics, and education.

Besides all hailing from Louisiana, these women have shown me what it means to be persistent against the odds. During this painting process, I had to persist through challenges of mind and body, excitement and fatigue, and even the occasional harasser. Ideas had to shift in order to arrive at the image you see today and I am proud of this piece, my largest ever. In my own life I have dealt with racism in school and racists in Portland, too; yet, I could not imagine the emotional weight on these women shoulders during their clashes with highly agitated and violent white people. As an honor to their struggles and accomplishments as humans and mothers, this mural visually places these women on a plane of existence 17 feet higher than that of base-level ignorance. These women look at the reading youth in the mural and out at us from a higher plane of wisdom, grace, and compassion.

It was an honor and a privilege to work with Jane and her colleague Kaprese in designing the mural for her building. PSAA’s team always had my back and made sure I was safe, hydrated, and prepared for the elements. Thanks to all my “ground control”- ladder holders and mural visitors. Thank you to Danish for your help painting the text. Thanks to Maquette and Jon for the sturdy ladders. Thanks Daniel, Mad, and Ken for putting me up. Thanks random people who honked at me in support of the work.