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(PHOTOS) Drew Charter School students unveil ‘Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together’ mural

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(PHOTOS) Drew Charter School students unveil ‘Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together’ mural

A view of the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural during a dedication ceremony and reveal at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.
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By Dean Hesse, contributor 

Atlanta, GA — Students from Drew Charter School unveiled their “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together,” mural during a dedication ceremony on Saturday, March 5.

The closing of Emory Libraries “Speak What Must be Spoken,” a collaborative exhibition project between Emory Libraries and Drew Charter School was also commemorated.

Drew Charter School Visual Arts teacher Dr. Lisa Whittington said the art class worked from scratch and studied Black Lives Matter murals from across the country before making decisions on design and direction.

“Instead of filling in letters with decorations, stories will be told in the letters to make the mural more meaningful,” Whittington said. “After walking the area where the Black Lives Matter mural was planned, Senior Academy art students felt strongly about including other groups who have been target for hate.”

Each letter in the mural is 18 feet by 3 feet, and the total length of the mural is 350 feet. Drew Charter School is located on Eva Davis Way SE in Atlanta.

Brielle Colemon listens to the chorus during the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural dedication at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Atlanta Board of Education Member at Large Cynthia Briscoe Brown speaks during the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural dedication at Drew Charter School on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Senior Academy dancer Idia Enadeghe performs “Black boy” during the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural dedication at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson, center, attended and spoke at the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural dedication at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Drew Charter School Visual Arts teacher Dr. Lisa Whittington, on right at podium, recognizes students and community artists who worked on the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural during a dedication ceremony at the school’s campus in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Hannah Page, Director of Research, Data, and Analytics at Drew Charter School and her son Zain, 4, look over the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural during a dedication ceremony at the school’s campus in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

People view the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural during a dedication ceremony and reveal at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

People view the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural during a dedication ceremony and reveal at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

The reveal of the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural at Drew Charter School on Saturday, March 5, coincided with the closing of the Emory Libraries “Speak What Must be Spoken” exhibit on Drew’s campus. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Harp players wheel their instruments into place for the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural dedication at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Debra Jeter, an art teacher for DeKalb County Schools, on left, and artist Marietta Solomon assisted with the Drew Charter School “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural. “It was a pleasure to come out and be a part of this,” Geter said. “Murals are where art meets society, and we need more of that,” Solomon said. “The mural was educational. I enjoyed working with the kids.” Photo by Dean Hesse.

Drew Charter School students, staff and members of the community who worked on the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural pose for a group photo during a dedication ceremony at the school’s campus in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Drew Charter School Engineering teacher Donyea Ruffin, on left, and Delores Ruffin clap as the chorus sings during the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural dedication at the school’s campus in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

Members of the Elementary and Senior Academy Chorus sing “Lean on Me” during the “Black Lives Matter: Stronger Together” mural dedication at Drew Charter School in Atlanta on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by Dean Hesse.

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