In 1955, racial discrimination impacted the lives of Blacks in Baltimore. A notable, though often overlooked, incident of racial injustice occurred at Reads, a local drugstore at Howard and Lexington Streets. Black college students attempted to order lunch at a white-only counter, as part of a peaceful protest against segregation, but were denied service and left to avoid arrest. Days later, the incident sparked a sit-in, prompting the store and other local retailers to change their discriminatory practices.

Among the protesters at the sit-in was Helena Hicks, a student from Morgan State College (now University), who later became a noted civil rights advocate. Today, a mural of Hicks by MICA graduate Andrew Pisacane ’11 (Interdisciplinary Sculpture BFA), a Baltimore-based artist also known as Gaia, adorns the roll-down gate at the site of her historic sit-in.

Gaia chose to paint the mural of Hicks on the metal rolldown at the original site of her sit-in, highlighting her impact on civil rights and her role in saving the Reads’s building from demolition. This public art endeavor not only commemorates historical figures like Hicks but also seeks to enhance and energize urban spaces long-term, showcasing the power of art to transform and unite communities.