Texas Southern University

          This mural by an unknown student artist is a colorful work that encompasses various themes such as civil rights, political power, and family. The center focus is a shirtless Black man with his fist raised and a rope around his waist. Broken chains dangle from his wrists as he stands in front of a red and a purple flower. Behind him, greenery spreads throughout the rest of the mural. On the left side, behind the main figure’s raised fist, two bales of cotton are stacked. In the lower left corner, a pair of plowhorses are working a field. Above the horses, a young woman in a checked shirt holds a book and looks upwards, with the words “One Day I’ll Know I’ll Be Free” written next to her. On the right side of the mural, four Black men, each dressed as a different profession, form a line from the top to the bottom of the composition. To the left of the men, sand tumbles down an hourglass. Just above the hourglass is a tree branch with a tropical fruit, perhaps a papaya, growing on it. 

          This mural reflects themes of slavery, labor, and hope. The central figure, pictured with chains and a rope, appears to have broken free from his limitations. His upright posture and raised fist seem to indicate a sense of purpose, liberation, and determination. Overall, the mural offers a progressive narrative of Black Americans’ history. The images of chains, livestock, and cotton bales visually reference slavery and its innumerable violences. On the right side, the hourglass depicts the passage of time, through which Black Americans have consistently strived and fought for opportunities, including the opening of professional fields that were previously segregated. The woman on the left side represents an ongoing aspiration and fight for freedom. The chains, running throughout the entire composition, symbolize the systemic racism and oppression that she, and all Black Americans, continue to struggle against.

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