Afromation Avenue 2024 (7th Ward)
Afromation Avenue is a community street art initiative working to preserve the cultural integrity of Black spaces throughout the city of Philadelphia. In collaboration with local Black artists and community members, personalized positive affirmation street signs find a permanent home within the landscape of historically Black communities.
MISSION:
As creators and curators of public art, Jennings and Kelly are dedicated to their mission of challenging the monolithic narratives surrounding Black culture and history in America. Afromation Avenue’s’s why honors Fanon’s position on the most valuable asset for a colonized people, “the most essential value, because the most concrete, is first and foremost the land: the land which will bring them bread and, above all, dignity.” This street art project is a permanent fixture of a long history of Black resistance, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Through their artistic endeavors, their goal is to: cultivate a sense of belonging, pride, and empowerment; reclaiming spaces as a canvas for narratives that amplify the richness of our history; inspire action.
2024 COLLABORATORS:
Jennings and Kelly are deliberate in their collaboration with local Black artists and Mural Arts Black Artists Fellows to authentically represent the communities they serve.
Mithsuca Berry is a Haitian artist, educator, and storyteller whose work transforms the meaning of art in their life. Their work reflects an epiphany in their healing journey as a Black queer/non-binary person of Caribbean descent. Art serves as a bridge between their inner child and spiritual self, allowing them to archive complex emotions and stories that are often erased. Through sketching, writing, and releasing their work, they aim to connect with others and foster collective healing. Their art seeks to protect the future autonomy of people like themselves.
Andre Chaney is a Philadelphia-based painter, author, and illustrator who uses fiction and folklore to explore African American experiences and culture. Inspired by Ernie Barnes’s portraiture from Good Times, he developed a passion for art early on. Since illustrating his first children’s book, I Can Read So I Can Lead, in 2020, he has illustrated eight more, finding joy in conveying powerful messages through children’s literature. Chaney’s work has been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show and is available in schools and libraries across multiple states. In 2023, he collaborated with KABOOM to create story trails in Philadelphia and painted a vibrant mural at the Logan Library, inviting viewers on a visual journey.
Mithsuca’s deep exploration of trauma and healing through art, coupled with their commitment to preserving Black stories, offers a powerful and personal perspective. Andre, with his vibrant illustrations and engaging storytelling, brings a sense of joy and accessibility to the project. Together, their distinct artistic styles and shared dedication to community engagement make them ideal contributors to Afromation Avenue’s’s mission of celebrating Black representation, history, and culture.
WHY PHILADELPHIA’S 7TH WARD:
The 7th Ward of Philadelphia has long been recognized as a significant center of Black life, culture, and resistance. Historically, it was home to a thriving Black population that, despite systemic exclusion, built a vibrant community defined by its resilience and creativity. Mother Bethel Church, the “mother church” of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination, is the oldest property continuously owned by African Americans in the United States. W.E.B. Du Bois documented this area in The Philadelphia Negro, offering an in-depth analysis of its social, economic, and cultural fabric. Du Bois’ study not only highlighted the enduring challenges of racial inequality but also celebrated the strength, entrepreneurship, and communal bonds that characterized the 7th Ward.
Afromation Avenue’s decision to focus on the 7th Ward is deeply aligned with this history. By placing positive affirmation street signs in historically Black neighborhoods, the project acknowledges and preserves the identity of spaces that have long been central to Black resistance and self-determination. The use of public art as a form of community engagement reflects a deliberate effort to challenge reductive narratives about Black culture, while celebrating the diversity of Black experiences in America.
Our mission, influenced by Frantz Fanon’s assertion that land represents the most essential value for colonized peoples, is particularly relevant in this context. For generations, the 7th Ward has been a site where Black Philadelphians sought not only economic opportunity but also a sense of dignity and belonging. Afromation Avenue’s’s work continues this tradition by reclaiming public space to foster empowerment, pride, and collective identity.
By collaborating with Black artists, community members, and public institutions, the project ensures that the stories and aspirations of the community are represented authentically. In this way, Afromation Avenue not only honors the historical significance of the 7th Ward but also contributes to its ongoing legacy of cultural innovation, activism, and resistance.
The project was created with support from Mural Arts Philadelphia, in partnership with Streets Dept.
Location Note: In addition to signs in West Philly (2022) and Germantown (2023), the 2024 artworks can be found from 6th and Lombard Streets to 9th and Bainbridge Streets in South Philadelphia. These signs will remain in place indefinitely.