Houston's Art Depicting 'Slavery Still Legal' Draws Powerful Reaction At Cuney Homes

Third Ward Cuney HomesPhoto byBy WhisperToMe - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7595245

The public housing complex in Houston's Third Ward, a place popularly known as the Cuney Homes is now home to a striking new mural that serves as a poignant tribute to the lasting impact of slavery and the tireless pursuit of justice.

Conceived by artists Armando Castelan and Black Cassidy, the mural titled "Slavery is Still Legal" prominently showcases the artistic talent of 14-year-old Edrick Early Rhodes II, a resident of Cuney Homes.

The mural's title is a reference to the 13th Amendment's exception clause of the U.S. Constitution. What is the meaning behind it? The Amendment outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude "except as a punishment for crime."

"The hashtag for the mural is End The Exception," said artist Black Cassidy. "The idea is to get the word out to let people know that this still exists, and we want to abolish that particular exception."

The mural is divided into three sections:

• The top third, shaded purple, contains the sugar cane fields tended by enslaved people in Sugar Land, as well as the Columbia Tap Trail — also known as Sugar Road, which carried enslaved people to the fields. The multicolored middle part of the mural shows women in the fields, while the bottom third, shaded blue, juxtaposes enslaved men on the left with incarcerated workers on the right.
• In the foreground, Edrick Early Rhodes II gazes upward, and his hair overlaps with two of the women tending sugar cane.The artwork is divided into three distinct sections, each portraying a different aspect of historical significance.
• Another section near the top portion, shaded in a deep purple hue, depicts the sugar cane fields that were laboriously tended by slaves in Sugar Land.

Additionally, this section illustrates the Columbia Tap Trail, known as Sugar Road, which was the route taken by slaves to reach the fields. Moving to the middle section, a vibrant array of colors showcases women working in the fields. Finally, the lower third of the mural, shaded in a calming blue tone, presents a stark contrast - on the left side, enslaved men are depicted, while on the right side, incarcerated workers are portrayed. In the forefront of the mural,

Popular artist Black Cassidy, known for his artistic creations influenced by the cultural movements of the 1980s and 1990s, was approached by Castelan to contribute to the project. At first, Cassidy had limited knowledge of the 13th Amendment's exception clause; however, his participation in the mural project sparked a profound journey of introspection and societal impact.

"As I worked on the mural, I started conversing with community members walking by,” he says. “Seeing how many people didn’t even know about that exception was amazing. It opened my own eyes and started a really good conversation.”

"It’s a beautiful piece of art, but what it signifies is even more important — an exception," said Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabbaz, who represents the Third Ward. "And so certainly, we’re here today to not only reflect on slavery, but to show that our future sits here in our faces, and the fact that (Rhodes) is from the Cuney Homes is so very significant."

Black Cassidy is convinced that art can spotlight awareness related to social issues and motivate people to think, to act.

“Placing the mural in a public space makes it accessible to everyone,” he explains. “It’s a way to start conversations and encourage people to take action.”

Beyond its educational value, the mural also serves as a powerful tool for community engagement. Black Cassidy remembers the numerous conversations he had with residents of Cuney Homes during the mural’s creation. These interactions allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the community’s experiences and needs. “It was a privilege to be able to connect with the people of Cuney Homes,” he says. They shared their stories with me, and their voices inspired me to continue this work.”

Local residents, community leaders, and advocates came together to commemorate the successful realization of the project and pay tribute to the enduring memory of enslaved people in Texas and throughout the South. The profound narrative depicted in the mural deeply touched the community, swiftly emerging as a significant symbol that sparked meaningful dialogues on topics related to racial equality and societal transformation.

Cuney Homes, one of Houston's most well known low-income apartments was built during the 1940s. From the start, Cuney Homes became Houston Housing Authority first development for low-income Houstonians, including formerly enslaved people. But there is development on the horizon for Cuney Homes as it is set to undergo a $610.7 million transformation over the next decade, expanding from 553 units to 1,115, including multi-family, duplexes, townhomes and condos.

Reporter C. Walker can be reached at newsjournalist360@gmail.com