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After more than two years of planning, Arcata High’s Black Student Union (BSU) is ready to unveil the club’s new mural in honor of David Josiah Lawson. The big reveal will take place on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

“To me the mural represents power. It shows that we’re here,” sophomore Aliyah Aaron told the Outpost. “The powerful fists, bright colors, and portrait all symbolize power. We’ve all taken so much time and energy into this project, and this reveal really feels like the ending reward. We couldn’t have pulled this off without our amazing community at [Arcata High School] and throughout Humboldt.”

The mural, designed and painted by Cal Poly Humboldt alum Malachi Arthur, was funded by Art Representation Culture (ARC), a Dream Maker project of the Ink People Center for the Arts that promotes diverse cultural representation and community through murals in local public schools. Naomi Doherty, a project facilitator with ARC, worked with the students and local non-profit Youth Art Will Succeed (YAWS) to bring their vision to life.

“The students already knew that they wanted a mural, and in choosing to honor Josiah Lawson, the themes of social justice, Black Joy and Love came to fruition through this mural,” Doherty said. “We think it is important for the students to have a space and to be able to talk about issues that directly impact them. Mural projects such as these center the voices of the youth and through this empowerment they make the changes they wish to see.”

BSU Advisor Shannon Kresge underscored the importance of students feeling represented in their communities, especially at school. “[T]hey need to feel seen, heard and a part of the larger community,” she said. “Artistic expression is important because it allows individuals to express themselves creatively and it promotes self-discovery and empathy. … Spreading a message of love and community were important to the students.”

Sophomores Mae and Tae Wolford are hoping the mural will convey that “the Black community is evolving” in Humboldt County. 

“What encouraged me to get involved was seeing the impact this mural could [have] on people,” Tae said. “The message it gives is to show love [and] give justice to the people who deserve it.” 

The mural reveal will take place at the Fine Arts Building on the Arcata High School campus at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. The celebration will feature performances by All Love Aundrea, Ra and Bamidele Hotep. The event is sponsored by the Ink People Center for the Arts, Humboldt Area Foundation, Eureka NAACP, Black Humboldt, Building Black Community, HC Black Music & Arts Association, and Queer Humboldt.