To mark Black History Month, Cabrillo College and the Umoja Community hosted a ceremony Feb. 7 to unveil a mural in the cafeteria that celebrates Black history, culture, and the Santa Cruz region.
The nearly 30-foot mural was created by student artists of the fall 2024 Art 91 mural class, under the direction of guest artist and instructor Abi Mustapha who collaborated with art instructors Rebecca Ramos and Claire Thorson.
Mural class guest artist and instructor Abi Mustapha (right) with students.
Participating students: Andre Albanese, Aya Avidov, Aidan Botticella, Sofia Chasey, Cat Conable, Jenny Dowd, Serika Drake, Sophie Dudley, Joel Froloff, Raymond Gallardo, Luke Johnson, Leo Lee-Yahng, Bailey Mills, Rey Olivas, Brook Picket, Serenity Ross, Nia Saleem, and Buddy Williams.
During the ceremony, students spoke about their creative process and the cultural and local inspiration for the imagery. People from the Santa Cruz County community are portrayed in the mural.
The design was created in a classroom where students learned about local muralists, contemporary Black artists, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and other important moments in Black history — and gained insight from Black community members.
The mural highlights influential leaders and thinkers, well-known historical figures, some lesser-known activists, and some local changemakers in literature, politics, journalism, athletics, and the arts.
Subjects in the mural: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Bessie Coleman, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Shirley Chisholm, Breonna Taylor, Audre Lorde, Barack Obama, John Lewis, Richard Mayhew. Justin Cummings, Micha Scott, Angela Y. Davis, Debra Hill-Allston, Don Williams, Marty Grimes, Chelsea Woody, Marsha P. Johnson, James Baldwin, Jacob Lawrence, and Ida B. Wells.
The Art 91 class, initiated and sponsored by Cabrillo College Umoja Community, an organization with a mission to uplift and inspire academic excellence and self-actualization for African American and other students.
The mural is on Building 900.