Black Excellence Mural Created At Coventry PEACE Campus

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The parking lot of the Coventry PEACE campus has been transformed into a mural celebrating the achievements of Black Northeast Ohioans.

Local artists Jimmy Hayden and Wayne Pollard, and Heights Libraries board member Gabe Crenshaw, spread the words "Black Excellence" across the asphalt. Embedded in the words are images of Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison, Halle Berry, LeBron James, Jesse Owens and Rich Paul, scientist Garrett Morgan; and elected officials Carl Stokes, Louis Stokes, and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones.

The mural also includes the words "Tiger Nation" and the logos for the city of Cleveland Heights and Safer Heights.

“The most recent killings of Black people both by law enforcement and civilians who deemed it their duty to police Black people is what inspired me to take on this project,” Crenshaw said. “The phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ had become politicized and people were unwilling to separate the ethical and moral statement from the organization. This led me to suggest the phrase, ‘Black Excellence.’ ”

Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin said she supported the creation of the mural as a show of support for the Black community.

"When we saw the Black Lives Matter murals being painted in Washington, D.C., New York, and Cleveland, the Board of Trustees started to discuss if we should have some sort of affirming artwork at the library. Gabe said she had contacts who could do a great job if we wanted our own mural,” Levin said. “The Board decided that we should ask the FRIENDS of the Heights Libraries if they wished to support the project because they have a long history of supporting artwork for our branches.”

The FRIENDS Board approved the request for the mural and paid for the project. The cost of the mural was $2,357.

“I hope that the mural’s lasting impact will be to inspire individuals, particularly the Black youth, to explore more deeply Black history and the contributions Black Americans have made to society," Crenshaw said.