New York City visual artist Sophia Dawson decided to pay her respects to black and Latino mothers who lost their sons to police and extra-judicial violence. In a new mural called "Every Mother’s Son" on the Lower East Side, Dawson honors Kadiatou Diallou, Mamie Till, Constance Malcolm, Margarita Rosario, Gwen Carr, Lesley McSpadden and Iris Baez.

Dawson told Ideal Glass:

My art is a tool to bring people from different ethnicities, social statuses, beliefs and backgrounds together, to educate them and to develop a dialogue between them and the characters I depict. I want to highlight the significance of these figures and the relevance of their struggle today. They have been intentionally excluded from mainstream American History and their stories must not be forgotten… I always start working from black, as a conscious artistic exercise but also as a statement: it represents my opposition to the art education I received in institutions where I was taught that art had to begin on a ‘pure and white’ surface.

 

Last night we rapped at about midnight. Please stop by 22 East 2nd Street btw Bowery and Second Ave. from now through November to visit the "Every Mother’s Son" mural. Featuring portraits of some of the mothers who have lost their children to police brutality and racism in this country. Thank you to all who came out to help @maatmoon @loukster @cheeks__xox @raytion @sarebear329 and to all that shared words of encouragement while we worked. Standing in front of Constance Malcolm (mother of Ramarley Graham) and Margarita Rosario (mother of Anthony Garcia) ????

A photo posted by Sophia (@iamwetpaint) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:04am PDT

Every mother’s son. Complete. Made possible by @idealglass

A photo posted by Sophia (@iamwetpaint) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:57am PDT

(h/t For Harriet)