James C. Wright Middle School: Curriculum

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Ed Holmes brought this mural,The Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North, to Wright Middle School upon his arrival as head principal. He originally contracted with Linda Mathis, an art teacher at Hamilton Middle School in Madison, and Amond Lopez, one of his former West High School students to do a backdrop for a cultural performance he was producing for West High's celebration of African American History Month. The first frame shares the mural's story and mroe about the people who created it.

The primary theme of the mural is the "Great Migration" which is the time period from the late 1800's through the 1920's. This was a time when African Americans migrated from the south to the north in search for jobs, housing, and generally a better life.

This was also the time of the Harlem Renaissance, the rebirth of African American Arts and Culture. This was the time of Langston Hughes, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and many many more great artists who revolutionized the way African Americans perceived themselves and the world. Their influence has had a profound impact on our entire society and what we see across the country in major urban areas today.

This was an important time in American and African American History and Holmes thought it was only fitting that James C. Wright Middle School be the permanent home for the mural.

The mural was dedicated to the school January 28, 1999 at a special dinner.