Houston’s Cuney Homes public housing complex has a powerful new mural that has become a reminder of the enduring legacy of slavery and the ongoing fight for justice. Created by artists Armando Castelan and Black Cassidy, the “Slavery is Still Legal” mural prominently features Edrick Early Rhodes II, a 14-year-old artist who lives in Cuney Homes.
Black Cassidy, a seasoned artist whose work often draws inspiration from ’80s and ’90s pop culture, was brought into the project by Castelan. While Cassidy initially knew little about the 13th Amendment’s exception clause, his involvement in the mural quickly became a catalyst for personal and social change.
“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.”
The mural has three components. The upper third, shaded purple, features slave-tended sugar cane fields in Sugar Land and the Columbia Tap Trail, often called Sugar Road, which transported the enslaved to the fields. The mural’s bottom third, tinted blue, contrasts imprisoned laborers on the right with enslaved men on the left. The mural’s multicolored center section depicts women working in the fields.
Rhodes is shown in the foreground, his hair overlapping with two women harvesting sugar cane as he looks up.
He believes art can raise awareness about social issues and inspire action.
“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.”
Residents, local officials, and activists gathered to celebrate the project’s completion and honor the legacy of those who had been enslaved in the area. The mural’s message resonated with the community and quickly became a focal point for racial justice and social change discussions.
In the weeks following the mural’s unveiling, Cassidy has been working to expand its impact. He has collaborated with local organizations to organize educational events and workshops based on the mural’s message. Additionally, he has been exploring opportunities to create similar murals in other communities.
