Art Feeds the Soul: One Guy in Bed Stuy

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The Yusef Hawkins mural today.
This morning I was reminded of Yusuf Hawkins, the 16-year old Bed-Stuy youth who was killed by a white mob in Bensonhurst, New York, just for being black and in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was 22 years ago in August. But the reminder came in a positive story: A young white artist named Gabriel Specter, himself a resident of Bed Stuy is working to recreate the mural on a material called parachute cloth, to be attached to the original mural wall, which has, over the been painted over and has faded. I can't  find a photo of the original mural. Specter is paying for materials out of his pocket, and this just does the heart good. Hear and read the story from NY1 

Yusuf Hawkins, date unknown
As a sidenote: While I was searching for a mural image, I came upon a site with a painting called "The Murder of Yusef Hawkins." In the description underneath is the account of members of St. Dominic's Church in Bensonhurst laying a wreath of flowers on the site where Hawkins was murdered.

Eight youths faced charges stemming from the killing. One, Joseph Fama, was convicted of murder. He was 19 when he led the mob to kill Hawkins. He is 40 now. He will not be eligible for parole until 2022. Another youth, Keith Mondello, was acquitted of murder, but served time for lesser charges. After leaving prison he met with Yusuf's father to apologize and ask forgiveness.







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