Teacher empowers her students to see themselves as art
An artist and educator in Washington, D.C., is using her work to celebrate her students while confronting the lasting effects of redlining. Blu Murphy is helping young people see themselves and their communities as works of art. Shane Mukasa of our journalism training program, PBS News Student Reporting Labs, has the story.
In Washington, D.C., artist and educator Blu Murphy is using her artwork to empower her students and challenge the impacts of redlining. Murphy, who has been teaching for 15 years, incorporates her students into her work, emphasizing their value and beauty. Her work often features her students, highlighting their unique qualities and challenging societal perceptions.
One of her most notable series, the Redline Series, addresses the historical and ongoing effects of redlining in urban communities. Redlining, a practice that began in the 1930s, involved drawing red lines on maps to designate areas as hazardous or undervalued, often targeting Black and urban communities. Murphy's work aims to celebrate her students and the communities they belong to, regardless of their zip codes or perceived socioeconomic status.
By showcasing her students as art, Murphy hopes to instill a sense of pride and self-worth, reminding them that their value is not determined by their environment but by their intrinsic worth as individuals.
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