March 11th 2024.
The New Orleans Police Department is currently on the lookout for the person or persons responsible for vandalizing a recently painted mural at the Tate, Etienne, Prevost Center in the Lower 9th Ward. This shocking act of vandalism took place over the course of two nights, with evidence suggesting that the same individual was behind both incidents, as reported by WDSU News.
The TEP Center, which was established in 2021, holds a significant historical legacy. It was founded by three of the four courageous women who played a crucial role in desegregating schools in New Orleans when they were just young girls. In collaboration with renowned artist Brandon "B-Mike" Odums and the youth from his nonprofit organization, Eternal Seeds, a beautiful mural was commissioned to depict these three women in both their youth and adulthood. However, within a few days of its unveiling, the mural was disgracefully defaced with black spray paint on two consecutive nights, starting from March 3rd.
Dr. Leona Tate, one of the legendary "New Orleans Four," expressed her disappointment, stating, "I have no idea why someone would do this to our mural. It's either a clear indication that racism is still prevalent, or perhaps the person responsible is not aware of the significance of our work here." She went on to say, "The young individuals who painted this mural are devastated. It breaks my heart to see them like this."
Despite this setback, Dr. Tate and her colleagues remain resolute and undeterred. "The mural can be fixed," she assured, "I just hope and pray that this doesn't happen again." On February 26th, the TEP Center took to Instagram, inviting the NOLA community to come and see the new exhibit. Along with a video of the mural and the unveiling ceremony, the caption read, "Yesterday was nothing short of amazing! We are extremely grateful to the artists for their fantastic exhibit and this astonishing mural! We urge everyone to come and see it in person! The TEP Center is now open!"
When asked by WDSU News about the purpose of the TEP Center, Dr. Tate explained, "Our goal is to educate the public about the desegregation of public schools in New Orleans." In 1960, at the tender age of six, Dr. Tate, along with her friends Tessie Prevost and Gail Etienne, bravely stood up against racism and abuse to attend McDonogh 19. At the same time, another young girl, Ruby Bridges, was making history by integrating William Frantz Elementary. Decades later, these three women now own the very school they helped desegregate.
Thankfully, by the end of last week, B-Mike and his team of talented youth from Eternal Seeds were able to restore the mural to its former glory. The NOPD has assigned a detective to investigate the case, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers at 822-1111. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and the importance of educating future generations about the past.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
