A NEIGHBORHOOD IN TRANSITION – MURALS IN BROOKLYN’S BED-STUY-

Text By Dr. Elke Weesjes

“Real heroes are men who fail and are flawed, but win out in the end because they've stayed true to their ideals, beliefs and commitments.”

These are the words written on a beautiful mural on the corner of Fulton and Albany in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, which is commonly known as Bed-Stuy.

Spanning over 25 feet, the artwork celebrates the lives and achievements of icons who grew up in the area and is only a few blocks away from where I live. The artist decorated the wall with portraits of local rappers who went on to make it big, famous names such as Jay Z, Mos Def and Big Daddy Kane.

He also left the above message to offer encouragement. It speaks directly to the young boys growing up in this infamous neighborhood.