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School Mural Sparks Charges of Racism
Filed under: In The News
Artist R. E. Wall addresses the crowd as PUSD Superintendent Kevin Kapp, at left, and Miller Valley Elementary School Principal Jeff Lane look on during a rally in support of the mural at the Lincoln Elementary School. Credit: Les Stukenberg, The Daily Courier
A face on a mural at Miller Valley Elementary School in Prescott, Ariz., keeps changing color.
First it was brown. Then it got slightly creamy. Now it's turning brown again.
Along the way, a lot of faces in the community turned red -- both from anger and embarrassment -- amid charges of racism.
And a city councilman in the town of 43,000, located two hours north of Phoenix, lost his job as a radio talk show host as a result.
R.E. Wall, of the Prescott Downtown Mural Project, was commissioned by the Prescott Unified School District to paint the mural. It shows young people with happy faces riding bikes and using other "green" sources of transportation.
The largest face painted on the mural is brown, and Wall tells ParentDish he intended it that way.
"I want it be a Mexican-American child," he says. "We weren't looking at the demographics of the community. What we were focusing on is the demographics of the school."
Students at Miller Valley Elementary, Wall says, are almost 48 percent Hispanic.
Nonetheless, the Arizona Republic reports, Principal Jeff Lane asked Wall and the other artists on the project to lighten the kids' faces.
"We asked them to fix the shading on the children's faces," he tells the newspaper. "We were looking at it from an artistic view. Nothing at all to do with race."
Last week, however, the Prescott Daily Courier reports Lane apologized for the decision before a crowd of protesters and said the face on the mural would resume it's original color.
Wall tells ParentDish the controversy was always about public pressure. He and the other artists involved in the project heard a constant barrage of racist remarks about African-Americans and Hispanics while working on the mural.
"That's been the hardest part, because I have a lot of multicultural friends," Wall says.
Councilman Steve Blair allegedly lost his radio gig because he didn't like the mural and said so on his afternoon talk show on local station KYCA. He claims he was fired for his statements.
"My concern about the mural was that it was defacing a public building of a historic nature," he says in an interview recorded on the website Prescott E-News.
"Not everything is OK," he says. "And not everything should be looked at as I have to be politically correct around everyone I stand with."
Charges of racism apparently surfaced after Blair responded to a caller on his show.
"Some guy called me and said, 'Doesn't that look like a big ol' black guy in the middle of that picture?' " Blair says in the interview. "I said, 'It does. Maybe it has something to do with the guy who's in the White House.' Whether you like it or not, he's our president and he is black. There's nothing racism (sic) about what I just said. It's a statement. It's a fact. But everyone wants to paint you as being some kind of crook."
Station officials -- who air national conservative talk shows hosted by Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage -- dropped Blair from their afternoon lineup.
"I am not longer the KYCA 1490 p.m. guy," Blair says in the Prescott E-News interview. "I am going to be the afternoon water-my-garden guy."
The Arizona Republic reports the mural, funded by a $5,000 state grant through the Prescott Alternative Transportation Center, was selected by students and faculty to reflect the theme "Go Green!"
Wall tells ParentDish the face on the mural is more than paint on a wall.
Related: UC San Diego Condemns Frat Party Mocking Black History Month
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 11)
6-10-2010 @ 9:31AM
Jonesie said...Your entire rant proves RACISM is alive and thriving! There is stupidity everywhere and has nothing to do with ones race. What about the white man keep a white woman caged in his backyard? what about the white man who chopped up his wife and kept her in his freezer? What about the white man who raped and sodomized his nine month old child? What about the white man who be-headed his wife?
What is so funny is the fact that there is no pure-breed anywhere! Throughout the ages all races have become mixed....especially due to white slave masters who had have a black woman! So while you rant, Wizard, black blood flows through your veins as well! Come on...I know you can hear it crying out from the inside! LOL! Hear it chanting, "How can you hate me? How can you deny me! Here I am! I'm on the inside...of YOU!" giggle, giggle giggle....I AM BLACK, I AM A PART OF YOU, I AM ON THE INSIDE OF YOU!
6-10-2010 @ 6:38AM
DON SOLES said...You can't do anything today without being called a racist, just ask Hallmark. African americans are looking for attention by claiming racism, and probably a cash settlement. My white son was kept out of classes when he reported african american kids were threatening him and his white friends on a daily basis. This is ignored by the press and government because apparently white people can't be victimized or segregated out of an equal education.
This constant need by african americans to be victimized due to your race is only hurting your chances to be recognized as equal and not inferior to other races.
Reply
6-10-2010 @ 6:58AM
Toni D said...Give me a break. White people r always complaining that african americans are seeking a hand out or being bullies. But if the white society stop belittling all the minority races and try for once in their lives to blend and get along this country might run a whole lot smoother. Number two is the mural is fine. An artist is allowed to draw is opinion anyway he chooses. remember it's the white society that is complaining, not the minority.
6-10-2010 @ 7:12AM
Judy said...We are sick and tired of these blacks and mexican illegal immigrant criminals playing the race card at every turn on anything. Its all about a victim wannabe mindset that is destroying our society. Whites are the ones who are the real victims in America. The baggy pants sideways cap rap crap thugs playing victim is clearly the problem. Wake up America. The media needs to wake up too.
6-10-2010 @ 7:22AM
AA said...Toni... GIVE ME a break if you read the article it was the BLACK people who got the radio guy fired not the whites. To add to another post ,incidentally, is there a CLOUD magazine to rival JET, is there a congressional WHITE caucus,is there a WHITE history month,is there the National Association for the Advacement of White People (can't use Caucasian due to copyright). it is the "minorities" who refuse to blend that keep everything stirred up.
6-10-2010 @ 9:17AM
Glyn said...Do youbelieve your own b.s. Also you obviously didn't read the article, also that looks way more like a hispanic child than an african american child to me.
6-10-2010 @ 9:27AM
Pott54 said...AA & fellow co-horts: STFU! The article DOES NOT state that African-Americans were the protestors…YOU’RE THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO READ THE ARTICLE. And if we go by the remarks of the artist Wall---it’s you WHITE FOLKS who started this whole mess—STFU.
QUOTE: [Wall tells ParentDish the controversy was always about public pressure. He and the other artists involved in the project heard a constant barrage of racist remarks about African-Americans and Hispanics while working on the mural. "That's been the hardest part, because I have a lot of multicultural friends," Wall says.]
And African-Americans are entitled to have their ethnic organizations and publications just like all of the other ethnic groups as well as YOU white folks. . . we shouldn’t have to WAIT FOR WHITE FOLKs to include us in their lily white world. Furthermore, what are CRACKERS like you WHINING ABOUT anyways. You have the KKK, Skinheads, your WHITE churches, your lily white private country clubs, your lily white suburbs, your lily white TV programs, your lily white radio programs; Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Pat O’Reilly & A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE – LOL!
And let’s not leave out the good ole South where you have your CONFEDERATE holidays, CONFEDERATE flag, and your CONFEDERATE organizations...WTF is your white a$$ complaining about?!!!
Seems to me, it’s WHITE FOLKS LIKE YOU and this councilman who are WHINING and making much-to-do about nothing PLUS PLAYING THE RACE CARD. That a BROWN face in a mural could incite such hate and venom from WHITE FOLKS speaks volumes. The NERVE of you RACIST TWITS whining about African-Americans and Mexicans.
6-10-2010 @ 10:09AM
geneva miller said...you people are ridiculous, the freaken media is the best at keeping the different races at each others throats. You both speak on behalf of entire races and you dont have that right speak for yourself. I am white my daughter-in-law beautiful I might add is black my grandsons dad is aztec indian and we are a wonderful blended family. I myself am mixed with scotch,irish,english,cherokee,chactaw and osage indian so get over people we are by now all mixed for the most part. God created us all in His image. You will neverstop racism as you will never wipe out stupidity. The media only focuses on the bad because we as a society love the bad not the good. Wake up people you are like lambs to the slaughter good grief get a mind of your own.
6-10-2010 @ 10:15AM
Not surprised... said...I need each and every person to look at the facts of this case. The fact is, the councilman entertained the caller and added to the callers comment. Believe it or not, every single American has the right to speak up and point out when someone makes an offensive statement like, "doesn't that look like a big ol' black guy." If anyone played the "race card", it was the guy who made the original comment. The sad part about this case is if the faces on the murial were white, no one would have said, "doesn't that look like a big ol' white guy." This story is another example to the world of how white Americans are still stuck in the 1800's and believe their race is supreme to every other race in the nation. Another sad part to this story is I am not surprised at the callers comments nor am I surprised at the additional comments made by the councilman.
6-10-2010 @ 10:28AM
mikey said...Same thing happened to me. My son was in 1st grade and he was jumped at recess by 4 black kids. Stole his tennis shoes and laces. No punishment. The reason. The school admin was scared of the backlash that might ensue if it was reported and the black kids were disciplined. This happened the last day of school before Christmas break and they were hoping it would be forgoten. Needless to say we have a new city school admin.
6-10-2010 @ 11:01AM
shushu231 said..."Some guy called me and said, 'Doesn't that look like a big ol' black guy in the middle of that picture?' " Blair says in the interview. "I said, 'It does. Maybe it has something to do with the guy who's in the White House.' Whether you like it or not, he's our president and he is black. There's nothing racism (sic) about what I just said. It's a statement. It's a fact. But everyone wants to paint you as being some kind of crook." I'm a doctor,32 ,rich but still single.It's hard to get a girlfriend in my town ,most of them like my money more than like me.I just want to find my true love.so i uploaded my hot photos on matchrich .c om under the name of hot321.u dont have to be a millionaire,but u can meet one there. ..if you girls see this comment,i hope you will check my photos out there.maybe you are the one who i'm looking for!!!
6-10-2010 @ 12:06PM
gemini1372 said...I agree with you 100%
6-10-2010 @ 12:08PM
John Purcell said...as all should remember, Arizona is a racist state from beginning to finish. Be honest now. the predominant fragrance in the state is that of HATE
John Purcell
Flagstaff, Arixona
6-10-2010 @ 12:36PM
Pat said...I agree your with u completely. We, Americans, have worked & worked to get where we are today. Not to have a society that wants to live off of us because they don't want to work This has been going on for years now. Now that we have a black Pres., these folks will complain because they know he will listen. Look at all he is trying to do for them & in the meantime take away from us who have been self sufficient. There was always work for those who wanted to work & become successful. Those people are called self supporters, not beggars to the American Pres. who, unfortunately, is listening. There will be a big change. Trust me.
6-10-2010 @ 1:45PM
Nona said...I predict a HUGE white flight out of that community...and all the Mexican and other illegals will be looking at the black citizens for handouts.
6-10-2010 @ 2:49PM
James said...You know, I'm just plain tired of hearing about blacks and mexicans. It's my right not to like these people. It doesn't make it racist if you are just tired of something.
6-13-2010 @ 11:35PM
julia said...Well we all need to stop feeling so superior to other people other than a white face. What you guys are doing is making our color races look bad, just like there's a lot of of lazy and drug dealing mexicans theres always a white trash drug addicts, who also take advantage of welfare and food stamps. Just like there's black people selling dope on the corner, there's very successful black people working to make a better country, there will be a lot more if maybe you guys would let us, but what you guys do is push us down so we would only be trash, so you white people will feel like you have power. So instead of looking in other races and judge them you should look in yours and see that you guys aren't any better than an illegal immigrant, because not too long ago your grandparents came as an immigrant too and were also looking for an opportunity. Quit teaching your kids to be racist.
6-10-2010 @ 6:46AM
duke said...Let's see is we are racist or if Obama plays the race card next election.
Reply
6-10-2010 @ 6:58AM
bev said...This has gotten totally out of hand. Racism is a word now only associated with black people. They have made it their word. Ever since the Obama got into the White House, i'm sure the white in that will be changed eventually, you can't bring up truthful things he has done to cripple this country or you are accused of racism. I am tired of people using this word to get their own way. Grow up.
Reply
6-10-2010 @ 12:24PM
O said...Bev, you keep forgeting that the past president's crippled this country. Get a brain and grow up.