Obama spotted in Brooklyn!

[NYCGirl]

Beautiful...written in the background are passages from his "A More Perfect Union" speech.





The cool thing about living in Brooklyn, in a neighborhood that is packed with artistic (and mostly liberal) types, is that amazing things happen overnight. In Brooklyn, it also isn’t uncommon to come across murals of great black political leaders. I regularly ride my bike past colorful building-side portraits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, and others. But most of these appear to have been painted about two or three decades ago.

This morning, on my way to the subway (Grattan Street for you locals, near the Morgan L), I was greeted by a new portrait: one of the presidential hopeful and current Junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. I prefer my posts to steer clear of politics, largely because I’m such a politician myself that I don’t like to show my cards and reveal what I feel to be personal preferences or opinions. But I am not ashamed to say that I love the excitement that Barack Obama has been able to generate across racial and demographic lines.

Perhaps the reason that many of these murals were painted some time ago is, while there have been candidates for the presidency that have created excitement and broad-based support, it has been some time since there was a candidate that so many individuals were willing to invest their aspirations in. Since this was an non-commissioned piece of guerilla artwork, we’ll see if the owners of the building decide to let the tribute stand. If he doesn’t clinch the nomination, it will certainly come to stand as a curiosity.

Some photos for your enjoyment, courtesy of Heather Waelchli:

MORE PHOTOS AT LINK

http://aavrmag.com/?p=176

[snooper2]

1. Thank you for posting this..

thanks...you rock!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Graffito!

Why does Obama support vandalism? Is this the kind of thing we can expect from an Obama presidency?

:sarcasm:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

45. You were ahead of your time.

:patriot:

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. You mean this was tagging and you're daring the authorities to clean this mess?

Great ... another gift from Obamaniacs.

As for Brooklyn, our public access is filled w/Rev Wrights - as a Jew, it's great fun to hear myself demonized nightly.

Go ahead ... we have a history of race riots. Encourage some more ... you're enjoying the show.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

7. Thanks for sharing, Michael Savage. nt

[TheWraith]

8. You really just can't stop hating, can you? nt

[Eurobabe]

13. Ignored, I can't HEAR you!

[Fredda Weinberg]

22. Hate whom? I'm the one who grew up and still lives here, remember?

I'm the one who works w/the cops and underprivileged kids. No, I don't taunt authorities ... and neither should anyone else.

[walldude]

14. Clean this mess? You live in Brooklyn

and actually have the nerve to claim that that wall looked better before it was painted? :rofl: :rofl:

[Fredda Weinberg]

21. I grew up in East Flatbush, next to a vacant lot. It's my 'hood too.

From the description, that was private property, so how it looked is not your business.

[walldude]

24. Well according to the article the murals have been there

"for some time" so apparently "how it looked" isn't any of your business either. :rofl:

[Fredda Weinberg]

26. I don't care about the murals ... it's the taunting that's anti-social

You don't have to dare the city ... if I was pissed off, I'd report it.

[walldude]

27. I must be missing something could you please quote

where they are "daring" the city to remove it? I read the article and can't seem to find it.

[Fredda Weinberg]

28. The authorities would be called by property owners. I point you to this line

we’ll see if the owners of the building decide to let the tribute stand.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

31. An Obama mural will instigate race riots?

:rofl: :rofl:

[Unsane]

39. Thanks, Archie Bunker.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Beautiful...this is the kind of thing that keeps you from ever throwing NYC under the bus

K&R from a fellow NY'er.

[NYCGirl]

10. It sure is. I do love NY. And New Yorkers.

:loveya:

[Kittycat]

5. How incredibly beautiful and moving.

[jakem]

6. oh this is not a big deal.. similar art have been spotted in favor of Hillary in rural Ohio...

ya ya, ok that was not so kind... sorry!

[NYDem Observer]

16. Am I wrong for laughing

[politicallore]

9. I always support this! nomatter who it supports... it shows something

[Eurobabe]

11. Now THAT is art.

I love it!

[Ysabel]

12. k and r...

- that's wonderful thanks for the thread and link...

[ClayZ]

15. Bravo! K and R

[BumRushDaShow]

17. Wow. That was pretty quick!

Here in Philly we have alot of murals like that around (whole sides of multi-story buildings) but looks like NYC got their's right up to the current! :thumbsup:

[femmedem]

18. Beautiful!

I was just in Brooklyn for the first time a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it so much--this looks like a good reason to go back.

Maybe I won't tell Mr. Femmedem about this, just let it surprise him. :)

[VolcanoJen]

19. Just gorgeous, and inspiring.

Thank you so much for this lift to our spirits, NYCGirl!!!

[NYCGirl]

20. You're very welcome. Even with all the squabbling, the folks at DU are

great! And the link was originally from a great local blog I read every day,

www.gothamist.com

[Tarheel_Dem]

23. How cool is that? Call me names, or whatever, but Obama has

inspired a generation like no one has (including Bill Clinton) since Bobby Kennedy. The country needs this man, and we need him now.

[Georgie_92]

25. I love it, it's really beautiful, thanks for sharing.

[Catherina]

29. That's beautiful. America is changing as we watch, I love it! n/t

[Cha]

30. A Dream grows in

Brooklyn! Thanks, NYCGirl..

[WHAT]

34. wouldn't that be cool...

a mural in Brooklyn of a tree with an Obama face (like an ent)...with deep roots and the tender, curling leaves of spring...

[Bilyb]

32. What if he IS the next MLK or JFK?

Won't the Obamahaters feel sheepish! Of course 8 yrs from now Hillbot will be telling us how she supported him from the beginning!

[clevbot]

33. HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kick

[DangerousRhythm]

35. I miss New York...

... and the graffiti art is just one of the reasons why. This is awesome... thanks for sharing!

[NYCGirl]

36. KICK

[npincus]

37. goBAMA!

which neighborhood in Brooklyn?

[NYCGirl]

38. It says "Grattan Street for you locals, near the Morgan L"

Maybe some Brooklynite DUer can fill us in. I'm a transplanted Californian who lives in the East Village in Manhattan, so my knowledge of Brooklyn is limited.

[npincus]

42. Oh, misunderstood you were from that area.

I'm a native New Yorker, born & raised in Queens, schooled in Manhattan, transplanted to NJ. I know Brooklyn some, but not THAT well... guessing it might be around Greenpoint.

[foo_bar]

41. Williamsburg, possibly Bushwick

The neighborhoods aren't as clearly defined as Manhattan's (depending on which real estate agent you ask I either live in Crown Heights, Midwood, or Prospect-Lefferts Gardens), but being north of Flushing Ave. and proximal to Metropolitan and the L probably means Williamsburg.

[npincus]

43. thanks!

:)

[psychmommy]

40. that is beautiful.

folks are listening and paying attention to the process. so many people are getting excited about politics it is an exciting time. pa had 4 million voters registered as dems. there was a time that i thought dems were heading toward extinction. i am so invigorated now.

[BklynChick]

44. cool, I'm gonna go take my daughter and check it out.