Photo by Ray Richardson
By Ray Richardson
Contributing Writer
WATTS — A huge outdoor wall in the Nickerson Gardens housing project will serve as a permanent link to the legacy of pioneering Black players who helped shape the Rams history in the National Football League.
The Rams commissioned Brian Peterson, a Black artist based in Miami, Florida, to design a mural displaying full-color images of five former Rams who left a lasting impact on the franchise and the NFL — offensive lineman Jackie Slater, defensive end Deacon Jones, running back Kenny Washington, defensive end Woody Strode and quarterback James Harris.
“I now know my role as a storyteller … to familiarize people with these great men and what they accomplished,” Peterson said at the unveiling ceremony Feb. 22.
Peterson’s mural is 26 feet high and stretches 32 feet across. The display covers the entire outside wall of the Nickerson Gardens gymnasium and can be easily seen from numerous units in the housing project.
The mural is part of the Rams’ Canvas Of Culture series, which showcases Black History Month artwork throughout Los Angeles.
“This mural is all about representation. … If you can see it, you can be it,” said Jonathan Franklin, the Rams’ senior director of social justice and football development. “We want this display to be an inspiration to our youth. We want our youth to have heroes they can look up to.”
Rams’ officials gave Peterson the names of players they wanted him to display in the mural. Two of the players — Jones and Slater — are NFL Hall of Famers. Slater played all 19 of his NFL seasons with the Rams after he was a third-round pick from Jackson State.
Washington, a Los Angeles native, was the NFL’s first Black player in the modern era (post World War II) when he signed with the Rams in 1946. Washington played baseball at UCLA with Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947.
Strode also signed with the Rams in 1946 and was part of a movement to help break the NFL’s color barrier. Strode played one season with the Rams before turning to acting and building a successful film career. Strode earned a Golden Globe Award nomination in 1960 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Spartacus.”
Harris, who played four seasons with the Rams (1973-76), was the Rams’ first Black quarterback. Harris was 21-6 as the Rams’ starting quarterback and led the team to three straight appearances in the NFC championship game.
Harris was the first Black quarterback in the NFL to start and win a playoff game when he led the Rams to a 19-10 win over the then-Washington Redskins on Dec. 22, 1974.
Peterson, 38, is part of a generation today that is not familiar with Slater, Jones, Anderson, Strode and Harris. All five played in eras before many Rams fans were born. Peterson admitted he didn’t know much about the five players.
While working on the mural, Peterson saw some interesting reactions from Nickerson Gardens residents.
“People were stopping by to see what we were doing,” Peterson said. “When they saw the names of the individuals, a lot of them pulled out their phones to Google the names to find out who these guys are. These are players a lot of people didn’t know about. Now, they’re being showcased in their community.”
Peterson said it took him and his brother, Sean, only six days to complete the mural after getting the go-ahead from the Rams and Nickerson Gardens staff. Peterson’s knowledge of the five players is much better since undertaking the project.
“I know their stories now and the impact these players had on the Rams’ history and the community here,” Peterson said.
A staff member from the office of state Sen. Laura Richardson, D-Inglewood, presented Peterson and Rams officials with a proclamation in honor of the mural during the unveiling ceremony. Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker, whose 15th District includes Nickerson Gardens, also participated in the ceremony.
The Rams plan to promote the mural throughout the year to communities around Los Angeles to shed light on a diverse piece of Rams’ history.
“We want people to come to the site,” Franklin said. “This is the only place where this image can be seen.”
The Rams’ ultimate goal for the mural is to provide a learning experience for fans who might have limited knowledge of Slater, Jones, Washington, Strode and Harris.
“Hopefully, the history on this wall will strike curiosity in kids and adults,” said Mark May, executive director of Project Blue, a Watts organization dedicated to enhancing relationships between the community and the Los Angeles Police Department. “Too many times curiosity leads our kids in the wrong direction. This wall is going to create the kind of awareness our community needs.”
Ray Richardson is a contributing writer to The Wave. He can be reached at rayrich55@gmail.com.
