By Naomi Feinstein, Miami New Times
(Source: The Culture)
A mural honoring African American history at Dorsey Park in Miami’s historically Black Overtown neighborhood was vandalized with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti over the weekend.
The vandalism appeared on the section of the Overtown mural that features legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson at the corner of NW 17th St. and NW First Ave. The mural was defaced with a swastika and the n-word*.
“F nigger,” the graffiti reads.
“This was an act of hate, but it will not define us,” said Kyle Holbrook, whose MLK Mural Project spearheaded the mural, in a statement addressing the vandalism. “This mural was born from a community’s pride, history, and power. We will restore it — stronger, bolder, and with even more purpose. Black history is American history. And no spray paint can erase that truth.”
The mural was originally painted in 2012 in a collaboration between Moving Lives of Kids, Urgent Inc., and Touching Miami with Love. The artwork commemorates the legacy of Dorsey Park, which was once home to Miami’s Ethiopian Clowns of the Negro Leagues and influential Black baseball players like catcher Josh Gibson, who were banned from playing in Major League Baseball.
Local leaders, artists, and residents are working to restore and expand the mural following the act of vandalism. In his statement, Holbrook noted that community members are encouraged to get involved in the restoration process.
“The mural’s original purpose — to uplift African American stories and legacy — will now also stand as a powerful reminder: Hate will never silence history, and our response will always be greater than the act of vandalism,” Holbrook added.
The MLK Mural project, which partners with local communities to visually represent their histories, has created more than 300 murals to promote peace, cultural pride, and public art engagement.
