Philadelphia’s first Juneteenth mural unveiled in Germantown

The 6200 block of Germantown Avenue is home to Philadelphia’s first official Juneteenth mural, as it is named.

On Saturday, over 300 people gathered outside Germantown ArtHaus for the unveiling of artist Keisha Whatley’s newest creation: Philly’s First Juneteenth Mural.

The 1,100-square-foot painting took two and a half months to complete, and it’s meant to commemorate the events of June 19, 1865, when, a little more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, people in Galveston, Texas, were finally able to access their freedom.

When Whatley was tasked with commemorating the historic event, she refused to create a mural that only portrayed enslavement.

“Our story starts so far before,” she said. “I refused to glorify broken Black bodies ... and trigger my community.”

Instead, she came up with a multilevel mural, to honor the history of Black people from its origins to regaining freedom.

Black people on camels, African vegetation and patterns, the Dogon people’s astrology, and women doing each other’s hair, all represent the beginning. As Whatley puts it, the daily life before Black people were “ripped from their homes, families, lives, and joys.”

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In the middle, black and white iconography are stacked on top of each other representing Black people during the transatlantic slave trade. Although enslavers and political figures are painted, their silhouettes are gray and mesh with the background because, as Whatley said, “This is not about them.”

On top, six Black people emerge from a golden light. Their eyes are looking into the city’s horizon, hands held tight, as Civil War Colored Troop soldiers escort them. Behind the newly freed folks are small faded images of people picking cotton and working in the fields. Broken chains with the words freedom, family, power, and liberty surround them, as the Black power fist snaps a chain on the side. This level represents Juneteenth.

While Whatley said she hoped her art would inspire the community to get through life’s difficulties and remember their resiliency, the mural did more than that.

For Germantown native Kevin Powell, it instilled a sense of pride.

“I grew up here in the ‘70s, a lot of celebrations didn’t include us, and Juneteenth brought a sense of sadness for how long people in Texas spent without knowing they were free,” said Powell. “Coming out [of the house] to see this! I was in shock, it made me feel extremely proud and I couldn’t wait to take pictures.”

The lack of historical display and recognition is something the community has been dealing with for centuries. Juneteenth, for instance, wasn’t recognized as a national holiday until June 2021. “When white people do something it’s American history, when a Black [person] does something it’s Black history,” said Powell. “But no, this is American history.”

Sonia Waters, from Mount Airy, shares Powell’s feelings. She grew up in Germantown, in a time when “they didn’t want Black people here.” To be able to see such a big display of art brings her joy. “It’s really good to see progress,” said Waters. “But, it’s nicer to see the young people can now see their history displayed in our own neighborhood.”

Philly’s First Juneteenth Mural is part of a collaboration between Absolute Equality Public Art Initiative, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Capital One Cafe, and nonprofit Voices Underground. You can check out the art on the wall outside Germantown ArtHaus, Whatley’s community art center currently looking for donations to fund community activities.

Look for the colorful feather Whatley included in the piece in honor of her late father, artist Ron “Wandering Feather” Randolph.