LAKE WORTH, Fla. — A Lake Worth Beach mural is being restored for the first time in more than 25 years.
The mural on Wingfield Street tells a story, where beauty can be represented by drawing.
“Flowers for me represent happiness,” said 17-year-old Johanna Hernadez.
The high school senior is one of dozens of people volunteering to restore this mural and after weeks of brushing cracked cement blocks, Hernadez saw why you shouldn’t paint over history.
“When I came to volunteer for this, I didn’t believe the story behind this wall,” she said.
Edmund Devaux lived through it.
“I’ve been here all my life. There’s some people who can’t get out of their own way when it comes to the wall,” said Devaux.
For some, it’s a symbol of segregation. The mural was built in 1954.
“Whites used to stay across this wall, Blacks on this side of the wall,” Devaux explained.
The wall was an unofficial divider of white residents in the Whispering Palms Community from Blacks in the colored addition of the Osborne Community until 1969.
“It was always a conflict because it was racist.”
Retha Lowe has lived in the Osborne community for 44 years.
“I got involved in the wall in 1994,” Lowe said. “We don’t want to tear it down, but we need to enhance it.”
Discoloration and decay have reignited conversations from the past.
“Back then it was hurtful, but today this wall has evolved,” added Lowe.
Devaux sees hope.
“I say we paint it and let our little kids from different schools put a mural on it— it’s okay now. It’s okay for those who haven’t let go, to let go,” he said.