Texas Southern University

          Henry Gaston Michaux’s mural depicts the negative and grueling effects of war across three panels. In the foreground of the left panel, a terrified mother huddles with her children. Behind them are soldiers, lines of corpses, and scenes of urban devastation. The middle panel displays several shirtless and emaciated figures desperately digging through the trash for their next meal. The right panel depicts a streaming line of refugees fleeing the violence of the war.The right side of the mural shows a stark contrast of environment, depicting a sprawling field with three workers tilling the land.

          Michaux was a veteran and this mural was a reflection of what he saw while in combat. Michaux, along with many other students at this time, was able to study at TSU in part thanks to the G.I. Bill, which was passed to provide veterans with  support during their return to civilian life, especially regarding education and purchasing homes. Michaux was a favorite student of Dr. Biggers and painted this mural during his freshman year, having been granted special permission based on his impressive showing in a drawing class. As a senior, he completed another mural, this time in a neighboring staircase and showing various life stages. After graduating from Texas Southern, Michaux went on to teach art at several universities, including HBCUs Southern University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.