A new Black Lives Matter street mural, funded using student fee money, has been unveiled on IU’s campus at 7th and Jordan Avenue, between the Neal Marshall Black Culture Center and the Groups building. Officially announced by IU on July 8th, the mural is the result of a year-long project involving a partnership between a student group called Black Collegians, led by founder and President Tiera Howleit, and Joa’Quinn Griffin, the current head of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee within the student government.
The artwork of the mural is credited to local artists Olivia Roath, Ronny Booker, and Katie Scott. Funding for the mural came from the IU Funding Board, which is tasked with distributing student fees to organizations on campus. The funding was used to commission artists and pay for paint and other supplies, although volunteers also played a role in the project. IU praised the venture, thanking “the Black Collegians group for bringing this mural to life on our campus.”
The Crimson Post was unable to reach Black Collegians for comment, but was able to speak with Griffin. When asked if he felt the mural was necessary given the existing shows of support for BLM at the IMU, Griffin explained that he believed those were not visible or substantial enough. In regards to his purpose in creating the mural, Griffin stated that he hopes students will see the mural and help the United States “move towards the steps of ending systemic racism,” as well as “making the country equitable for everyone.”
In addition to the convenience of being located near the Neal Marshall Black Culture Center, Griffin noted that Jordan Avenue was chosen as the location for the mural because the street’s namesake, David Starr Jordan, was “a known white supremacist.”
While Griffin’s mural was sanctioned by the university, there is a significant amount of pro-BLM graffiti around Bloomington. When asked about such vandalism, Griffin replied that such means are “not the way he would have gone about it.”
BLM street murals have become an increasingly common sight in major American cities following the windfall of support Black Lives Matter received in the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd, with the city of Bloomington recently commissioning two taxpayer funded murals. Since then, Black Lives Matter has become increasingly involved in political controversies, including backlash to founder Patrisse Cullors’ multi-million dollar real estate dealings, as well as a recent statement of support for the Communist dictatorship in Cuba. However, despite the now divisive nature of the phrase, Griffin still stands by his decision to have the mural read “Black Lives Matter,” and hopes to create similar works around the country.