Untitled (Wall of Respect)

Interested in the ways in which Black Aesthetics—an exploration of African heritage and a celebration of Black identity and beauty—permeated all aspects of daily life in his community, Bob Crawford joined the cohort of photographers who worked at the Wall of Respect in 1967. Created by the Organization of Black American Culture (OBAC), a collective of Black artists, writers, intellectuals, and activists on Chicago’s South Side, the Wall of Respect was an outdoor mural located at 43rd Street and South Langley Avenue that featured Black heroes and heroines grouped into seven sections. While not a member of OBAC, Crawford worked in dialogue with its members and was deeply involved in documenting the Wall, particularly its creation. This image shows artist Myrna Weaver painting her contributions to the Wall’s Sports section: a victorious Muhammad Ali on one panel at left and Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell playing their respective sports on a panel at right.