Higginbotham mural gets underway at community paint day in West Philly

On Tuesday, August 9, despite a citywide heat advisory, West Philadelphia families, Mural Arts workers, a famous muralist, and members of The Philadelphia Citizen and Mural Arts Philadelphia gathered to start painting a mural of the Honorable A. Leon Higginbotham outside Mercy Philadelphia Hospital at 54th and Chestnut streets. The mural, a partnership between Mural Arts, the Penn Carey Law School and The citizen, is destined for 46th and Chestnut streets.

Higginbotham, whom we’ve profiled and whose moral teachings we will continue to write about this year, was a civil rights pioneer, national moral conscience, an impartial and impactful jurist who came very close to joining the Supreme Court — and largely unsung Philadelphia hero.

But this August morning was not only about him. It was about community. And snacks, courtesy of Federal Donuts. Workers unfurled paint-by-numbers-esque panels. Volunteers picked up brushes. News crews from 6ABC, NBC10 and CBS3 captured the action. Artist Shawn Theodore beamed.

It was a glorious collaboration — one those families will remember each time they pass by the completed creation. It will also be repeated in West Philly, at a date to be announced. Keep refreshing our events page for updates.

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Did you catch our IG reel about the paint day?

Community gathers to put first strokes of paint on the new Leon Higginbotham mural

By Ralph Thorn