With pearls around her neck, gardenias in her hair and a soft purple surrounding her, Billie Holiday closes her eyes slightly as she gets lost in the music. Next to her on her left, surrounded by a fiery red, Charlie Parker’s cheeks puff as he passionately plays his alto saxophone, caught in the midst of a frantic bebop solo.
On Holiday’s right, surrounded by green, Miles Davis becomes an extension of his trumpet as he plays the instrument. Below them, the words “Black History Matters” let out a powerful message for everyone passing the busy Phoenix street to see. This mural is one of many created by a group of artists to celebrate Black History Month.
Shining Light Foundation, a non-profit organization, commissioned a total of 28 murals to be painted on buildings around the streets of Phoenix in order to honor Black figures. With each mural representing each day of Black History Month, the project looks to shine a light on the achievements of Black leaders and the effect they’ve had on society. Supported by funding from Microsoft, the company hired 22 artists to create paintings that recognize both the well-known Black trailblazers and those that aren’t mentioned as often.
“This project illustrates that Black people’s contribution to society is not limited to mainstream Black figures,” said a spokesperson for the organization in a statement on their website. “We highlight Black individuals that made breakthroughs and differences within a variety of industries and categories.”
Mary Madrid Reed, one of the 22 artists working on the project, decided to create a piece that honored Madame Madam C.J. Walker, Mary Ellen Pleasant and O.W. Gurley, three Black entrepreneurs that had a significant impact on the business world. Walker built an empire selling cosmetics and hair products made specifically for Black women. Through her company, Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, Walker holds the Guinness World Record title for the first female millionaire that was self-made.
During the Gold Rush era, Pleasant made a fortune through the real estate business. Also a prominent abolitionist, she’s called “the Mother of civil rights in California” as she successfully helped end discrimination on California’s public transportation after suing the North Beach and Mission Railroad Company.
Gurley, known as “the founder of Black Wall Street,” purchased 40 acres of land in Oklahoma to be sold to Black owners. Eventually growing to a population of 10,000, the area, known as the Greenwood, thrived as most of the people living there circulated their money within the community. By spending money amongst the Black companies, Greenwood became a vibrant and wealthy town before being destroyed in an attack known as the Tulsa Race Massacre.
“It’s the social aspect, the community aspect and there’s the following your dreams aspect which is also very powerful,” said Reed to ABC when asked why she chose these figures.
Now in its second year, the project continues to grow as the Shining Light Foundation receives more support. The CEO of the organization, Gizette Knight, is working on getting other projects in the nature of this one done in more cities like Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. The organization is also documenting its impact by having children in Phoenix schools write about the figures in the murals and having the artists create 30-second videos about their experiences.
On Feb. 11, the organization will unveil this years’ paintings and show a documentary about the project in its first year. “I think it’s important for the young people to see these figures because it creates value in them, it empowers them,” said Knight told the news publications. “I could be more than just my circumstance.”
