When I wascomingup, therewasthismuralofJuliusErving.
Youknow, Dr J.
WaseverythinginPhilly.
I rememberhowinspireditmademetoseehimonthewall, whatthatdidtoignitethatfireanddesireforelevation.
Theideathattherewouldbe a muralofmeonthesideof a schoolinWestPhiladelphiajustwreckedmeisfromWestPhiladelphia, bornandraised, andnow a muralintheneighborhoodmightholdyourgaze.
ArtistRichardWilsonpainted a muralofWillSmithattheGlobalLeadershipAcademyCharterSchool.
I justtalkedinWestPhillyonmylaptopandjustplusplusplus, itzoomedinrightonthemap, whereitsaysWestPhiladelphiaonthen I turnedittothevirtualstreetview, and I'm justdrivingupanddownthestreetlookingforthetallestbuilding I couldfind.
Bythatpoint, I knew I wantedtodoingsittinginthechair.
Ifyou'reinterestedinyou, probablysee a everyreferenceThioTheKingDayWileyportrayedbackObama.
Youknow, growingup, mymotherandfatherandgrandmotherdemandednolessofmethantorepresentthefamilyeverytime I steppedoutin a waythatwashelpful.
Whenyou'reinPhiladelphia, yousee a lotofthingsintheyouthintheneighborhoodthat's notalwayspositive, and I thinkseeingthatmotivatesyouallinhisownbecauseyoualwaysgonnawantsomethingbetterforyourself.
Don't haveenoughrolemodelsouthere.
Yougottomakeitbe a letterstraightthinkingthewrongthing.
TheywenttoeOverbrookHighSchoolUpthestreetwas a partofthisworldthathenowislookingatusandtellingmyChildrenyoucanbewhateveryouwanttodothatit's justsopowerful.
Ifyouwere a kidheregrowingupnowandyouseethiseveryday, youcangetyourrealunderstandingthatthisguyismade.
Youknow, helivedhere.
Hegrewuphere.
Hehadthesamechancesasmethesamepossibilitiesasme.
ThesameeverythingonDhe.
He's beingpaintedon a wallbecausehe's donesomethingincrediblewithhislife.
Soafterweafterweshotthisvideo, weweretryingtoseeifwecouldcomeupwith a waytogivebacktothekidsinWestPhillyandtoRichardtheArtistsoftheMural.