Go Tigers & We Too Shall Rise

The murals – “We Too, Shall Rise” and “Go Tigers!” – reflect the rich history of Second Ward High School, built in 1923 as the first public high school for African-American students in Charlotte and closed in 1969 in the name of “urban renewal.”

The public artwork was “inspired by the hope and determination of a people living in the segregated South to rise above their current circumstances,” Robinson said in his artist statement.

“We Too, Shall Rise” calls out other Charlotte neighborhoods that were central to black life before and after the razing of Brooklyn. It also highlights the hard work and accomplishments of Second Ward students.

“Faced with the realities of separate, but not often equal opportunities, students of the Second Ward High School strived to excel in pursuit of a better tomorrow,” Robinson stated.

“Go Tigers!,” meanwhile, captures the spirit and tenacity students demonstrated while participating in sports and cultural activities.