"A Journey toward Freedom & Excellence"

"A Journey toward Freedom and Excellence". Artist: Corey Pane , June 2021. , This mural is part of RiseUP's MLK39: Racial Equity Mural Tour. The MLK39 Mural Tour is working with 39 communities across Connecticut to create 39 large-scale murals, one mural for each year of Dr. Martin Luther King's life., West Hartford community leaders, residents and local artist Corey Pane collaborated on the design of the mural, "A Journey Toward Freedom and Excellence", which combines the untold story of West Hartford's participation in slavery, the fight for freedom, civil rights and human rights, and through its persistence has continued to work toward a more equitable, diverse and welcoming community. Each piece on the mural represents a story of individuals who have helped the legacy of West Hartford and whose stories are not told nearly enough if at all, but now have been immortalized in the center of town., Each story in the mural helps us to navigate the complexities of the Black-American journey in West Hartford and the United States. From the hidden stories of slavery to the continued fight for equity and equality, the constant and continued senseless division and violence against people due to the color of their skin. But the mural also tells a more triumphant story of the successes and achievements of Black-Americans. The journey is not a straight line, there are obstacles and threats every step of the way, however through the tireless work of leaders and allies and the never-ending theme of perseverance that continues to rear its head up in black stories, this mural is one step toward the recognition of progress in West Hartford and beyond.,

"If you cannot fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward" Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.