A mural in the name of peace

On July 11, OneUnited Bank will host the unveiling of my mural. This project has been the commission of my life. I was given creative license by this inherently conservative banking institution to imagine and paint a thought-provoking mural that will be erected on the bank’s façade on Miami’s heavily traveled 79th Street corridor.

The mural project is in conjunction with an internship program administrated by our partners, The Miami Children’s Initiative and the Liberty City Renaissance Project. Twenty-one inner-city kids from nine local high schools were selected to participate in the project’s apprentice program, which also included a financial literacy component tailored for youth. These young people have kept me honest, organically honing the message every step of the way with their input, neighborhood research and view of what is really going down on the streets of Miami.

Each apprentice will make a rendering of the mural on a smaller piece of plywood to bring forth his or her unique voice, awareness and unity in the community. However, this oversized mural will convey another, controversial, message of hope. Through my art, I will expound on social and economic unrest using media icons such as Trayvon Martin, Christina Taylor Green, Michael Brown, local and national law enforcement and the firefighter heroes from the aftermath of 9/11.

This OneUnited mural will serve as a global exchange to unite the world onto the plateau of peace. It will also become the artistic blueprint for the documentation of truth and a sincere approach to equal justice.

The time is now to see through eyes of painted voices. I want to invite the world to join us on Saturday to celebrate the passing of racism, bigotry, fear and historical falsehood while embracing the birth of a unified nation on the grounds of love.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 8:08 PM with the headline "A mural in the name of peace."