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| Mural Design on Computer |
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| Mural Unveiling and Panel Discussion |
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| Claudenie Da Silva (Teaching Artist) assists in painting mural in U.S. |
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| Students from Brazil and U.S. painting mural at Suitland High School |
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| Kendeley de
Oliveira (Student from Brazil) Speaks at Mural Unveiling |
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| Mural Unveiling Ceremony |
A
40 foot mural celebrating the African Diaspora was unveiled in at Suitland High
School, in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Students from Prince George’s County and students from Sao Paulo, Brazil
worked with artists and museum professionals to create the mural. The mural
depicts the Brazilian and U.S. Flags, African textiles and symbols, and 3-d
cutouts of young people walking throughout the mural. In the center is a young woman looking
upward, who is adorned in West African symbols. The mural depicts Brazil’s and
the U.S. shared connection to African heritage.
The
event was an epic night of dynamic performances, student presentations, and
motivational speakers. During the unveiling celebration, Suitland High School
Center for Performing Arts department showcased dance and theatre
performances. The theatre performance
was “A People Could Fly”, an African American folklore about a group of
enslaved people flying away to freedom.
The dance performance was based on gospel and African dance and music. The performances were very moving and
artistically portrayed African American history.
Guest
speakers included Bisa Williams, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau
of African Affairs, Segun Eubanks, President for the Prince George’s County Board
of Education, Dr. Jacqueline Brown, Executive Director of the Prince George’s
African American Museum, and Prince George’s County Councilwoman Karen
Toles. Bisa Williams gave a motivational
speech that she spoke in both English and Portuguese, encouraging students to
be global ambassadors and to continue to enact change in the world.
As
the performances ended, the mural was lowered from the stage and everyone
gasped with wonder, and shortly after led with a round of applause. What made
the night more significant was that the U.S. and Brazilian project participants
were there together to share in this special moment. Together, they shared with the audience not
only the mural that they produced but how this cultural exchange changed and
broaden their view of themselves and the world around them.
Alexandra Maria Da Silva, a student at Antonio Sampaio High School, said the
cultural exchange program led her on a journey of self-discovery and gave her
an awareness of other cultures. “When I think about this project, I want to
help people discover themselves like me,” she said. “Who you are in the world,
you know, it’s very important. It’s very important to know where you’re from.
Bryanna
Rather, a student at Suitland High School said that she could definitely relate
with the students from Brazil because she too had never left the country. “It was so amazing to connect with my culture
but to also see connections with Afro Brazilian culture too. We learned so much in Brazil and while our
Brazilian friends were in the U.S. We
learned about the Civil Rights Movements in the U.S., the real history behind
Emancipation Proclamation, and how discrimination has impacted U.S.
society. The mural was great because it
brought people together and was so much fun to make. I hope to do these types
of cultural exchanges again and I am very eager to share what I have learned!”
Chanel
Compton, PGAAMCC Director of Education stated, “This has been such a
transformative project for all involved.
The mural is a product of a lot of hard work and the connections that
were made between both groups from the U.S. and Brazil. These types of collaborations strengthen the
dialogue between both countries in relation to the African Diaspora. Brazil and
the U.S. have so much in common in
relation to Black social and cultural movements and it was amazing to have our
youth connect with that history and to each other.”
The
mural is entitled “Walking with Purpose”. The theme and title of the mural came
from a saying that chaperones would tell students during their travels,
“Students…Walk with Purpose”, meaning while we are together in a group to never
stray away and to always walk with determination to your destination. While in the mural design workshops, U.S.
students internalized the meaning in a deeper way. They discussed that the phrase had a deeper
meaning; that in life you must always walk with determination to your
dreams. Also, through knowing and
appreciating your history and culture, you will walk stronger. The mural will be installed at the Prince
George’s County Public School Administration Office for high visibility and
public view.
Project
Background Information:
The
Prince George's African American Museum & Cultural Center (PGAAMCC) in
North Brentwood, MD and the Museu Afro-Brasil in Sao Paulo, Brazil were awarded
the 2013 Museums Connect Grant to implement an innovative youth project, “A
Journey Through the African Diaspora”. Both museums recruited youth, teachers,
and artists from PGAAMCC’s after school program at Suitland High School, Culture Keepers, and students from the
after school program Onarin Koja from
EMEFM Vereador Antonio Sampaio, Municipal School of Elementary and High School
in Sao Paulo.
Through
field trips and interactive workshops, students and faculty in both countries
explored the local history of slavery and how local communities/groups who were
enslaved resisted and gained their freedom.
They learned what life was like after emancipation; how these
communities/groups developed economically, academically, culturally,
politically, and socially in both respective countries. Prior to travel, Students shared information
and research virtually through video conferencing, social media, blogs, and
project website. Students also created
artwork that reflected their research and cultural explorations.
In
April and May 2014, participants finally visited each other’s countries for
full cultural immersion. Most of the
students and some faculty had never traveled abroad, so they were very excited
and honored with the opportunity. In April, U.S. participants traveled to
Brazil and in May Brazil participants traveled to the U.S. While in the U.S.,
both youth groups visited sites such as the Prince George’s African American
Museum, American History Museums’ Emancipation and Civil Rights exhibits, the
African American Civil War Museum, oral history testimonial from Jeremiah
Hawkins who shared the history of his great great grandfather who was enslaved
at the Riversdale Estate in Prince George’s County, and students also visited
and toured the estate. While learning
the history of the Emancipation Proclamation leading up to the Civil Rights
Bill of 1964, participants toured the Lincoln Memorial and the Martin Luther
King Jr. memorial. Students learned the history of the memorial sites and how
these sites symbolize peace and social justice movements in the United States. It
was a memorable experience for all involved.
