A mural project called “Redlining Redefined” opened at the Akron Urban League, 440 Vernon Odom Blvd., on Saturday, June 20.
The Akron Black Artist Guild created the six-wall mural with support from the city and other partners to provide information about area redlining, which is the now-illegal denial of credit based on race.
“We still sought out education; we still did extracurricular activities; we still gathered at our churches; we still got married, raised a family; we still created; we still had our parades; we still played sports,” said Akron Black Artist Guild Executive Director Dara Harper.
She added: “All those things despite the barriers that were placed in our neighborhoods” are featured in the mural and on web pages that visitors can check out by scanning QR codes on the mural.
Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH. Sign up for the Beacon Journal’s business and consumer newsletter, “What’s The Deal?”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: New mural shows how Black Akronites carried on in face of redlining
Reporting by Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
