By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CENTRAL HARLEM — A group of local teenagers have put their social activism into art, painting a multi-colored mural dedicated to a revolutionary local activist.
Called "What We Want, What We Believe," the mural was created by 15 local teens in honor of Emory Douglas, an artist who was a key member of the national Black Panther Party, a firebrand group that fought for social justice for African-Americans with what some critics called militant tactics starting in the 1960s.
The mural, at East 122nd Street at Third Avenue, was created in conjunction with Douglas' exhibit at the New Museum. "Emory Douglas: Black Panther” is on display through Oct. 18.
With Douglas' help, the teens remixed imagery from his earlier works to reflect present-day issues.
The project is the first collaboration between the Groundswell Community Mural Project that coordinates and promotes public art-making in New York City, the New Museum in the Bowery and The Studio Museum in Harlem.
The mural shows men and women carrying signs saying, "better health care," "affordable housing" and "all power to the people: Harlem unite!"
Amy Sanaman, executive director of Groundswell Community Mural Project, said that the project shows that many problems Douglas faced still exist today.
“The group found that issue of gangs, the issue of health the issue of education, the issue of violence are still alive,” she said.
Teen artist Christy Pabon hopes the mural will spur change.
“I hope this mural will get people to see that we need money for our programs in our schools and clinics,” said Pabon, 17, from East Harlem.
Brooklyn muralist Clare Herron and Chris Beck helped the teens create the mural over the past two months.
Herron, 26, said the mural shows the success of the Black Panther movement because the young people today will “remember their fight.”
“It means a lot to us, because here we have a lot for the legacy to continue,” said Cyril Innis Jr., a founding member of the Black Panther Party in New York.
