I recently read this on Wooster Collective.

A few weeks ago we posted a call for artists to assist in a massive mural in Washington DC, sponsored by the fantastic nonprofit group Albus Cavus. The final wall is absolutely stunning.

But to show how ignorant some people can be, we heard today that the local Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Marshall Phillips is now protesting the mural because, according to him, for it to be acceptable it needs to include references to MLK, the Redskins football team, and the Nationals baseball team.

Here’s the video and my commentary:

creativity and culture to counter crime and poverty.

Redskins? Part of the community? I walk through DC nearly every day … the kids make an effort to dress and act like individuals – this mural is inline with DC’s culture of creativity and beyond that it provides color and life to a neighborhood that is impoverished and rundown. There is so much crime and poverty in this city – we need every bit of motivation we can get for it.

graffiti is not a big problem in DC.

Hearing the ANC commissioner claim that graffiti is such a big problem is absurd. You’ll see a few mailboxes and alley walls tagged on – but not train cars or prominent building walls like NYC deals with. Besides…they should be allocating time on figuring out what kids can do after they get out of school (i.e. volunteer programs, community sports leagues, music and art training/co-ops, etc.)

local organizations helping youth.

Big Up to organizations that work hard for the youth in DC like the Latin American Youth Center, Youth Leadership Foundation, and the DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, among other organizations that are Literally and Measurably changing lives.

Nepotism is common in the political systems of impoverished communities – DC is one of these communities…The bureaucracy scares away well-intentioned bright minds from seeking leadership roles in their communities.

The ANC Commissioner’s Outfit.

The ANC Commissioner needs to jump his neon green outfit blob *** right into the wall and blend culture right into the mural.