Summer 2025 Great Wall of LA by Fatema Baldiwala

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

2025-07-29 01:34:39 UTC

I chose this photo of the mural showing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo because it represents a deep history of loss, resistance, and cultural strength. The image shows how borders and decisions made long ago still affect people today, especially Indigenous and Mexican communities. This mural reminds me of the stories that are often left out of textbooks and how art can bring history to life in powerful ways.

2025-07-29 05:43:42 UTC

I have chosen the segment of the mural that depicts the Mexican Repatriation during the Great Depression. This panel stood out to me because we are seeing history repeat itself with how the Latinx/indigenous people of today are being targeted by ICE.

kstepany0002 — 2025-07-30 23:16:50 UTC

I have chosen to write about Junipero Serra and the Spanish colonization of California. in the 18th century, Junipero has played a crucial role in expansion of the California mission system, which caused the Spanish colonization. While he is one of the many people who are significant towards the history and development of California, the consequences faced by others due to his mission systems are still a controversial topic to others. Therefore to some Junipero is a hero, and to some their worst enemy.

The Great Wall of LA: Mexican-American War

Alexiaperez19 — 2025-07-31 20:15:59 UTC

The panel I chose to write about is the “Mexican-American War”. I chose this panel because it stood out to me as I am Mexican-American and living in California. The painting illustrates what I believe to be Mexican soldiers at war with American soldiers. With my common knowledge of history, wars usually occur over claiming new territories. The painting seems as if they are fighting for California. I want to find out more about what this panel represents in hopes of learning more about state that I live in.

The Jewish Refugeees

dcmnxrmgcv — 2025-08-01 09:06:17 UTC

I chose this portion of the Great Wall Of LA, because it depicts a powerful scene from history that is centered around Jewish refugees and the Holocaust. The mural shows the St. Louis, a ship carrying Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in 1939, which was famously denied entry to the United States. The mural powerfully portrays the tragic realities of displacement, the horrors of the Holocaust, and the desperate search for refuge during one of the darkest chapters in history.

Migrants from California

2025-08-03 00:10:47 UTC

I chose this photo from the Great Wall of Los Angeles because it shows the experience of Mexican immigrants.

It shows a family of farm workers standing in a field, with flags in the background turning into the American flag. This represents their journey and hope for a better life in the U.S.

I picked this image because it honors the hard work and struggles of immigrant families and shows how important they are to California’s history. It also reminds us that these stories matter and deserve to be seen

Dr. Charles Drew

2025-08-03 03:45:27 UTC

The panel I chose to write about is the one of Dr. Charles Drew. I chose this panel because I had never heard of Dr. Drew before, and the artwork on the panel was very intriguing. In it, I saw a man in a white doctor's coat attempting to give blood to a patient, but the supply tube from the blood bag was cut off by a terrifying metal hand. This panel appears beside others from WWII, so I assume this image had to be about the war effort. I wanted to learn more about this panel and the man who inspired it. When I learned about WWII in school, Dr. Drew was never mentioned, which unfortunately doesn't surprise me, since the contributions of black and brown Americans are rarely portrayed in our history books.

Zoot Suit Riots 1943-Judy Baca

isaaccon091906 — 2025-08-03 04:19:27 UTC

I chose the Zoot Suit Riots – 1943 panel because it stood out to me visually and emotionally. The image of young Mexican American men being targeted and treated unfairly made me want to understand the history behind it. It felt important to learn about a moment where racism and injustice happened in Los Angeles, especially since it’s not something that’s often talked about in school.

Japanese Internment

2025-08-03 21:58:07 UTC

I chose this specific mural because I myself am a Japanese American. Some people on my mothers side of the family went through these internment camps. This time in Californian History haunts me because of how terribly my people were treated. The panel's vivid imagery reminds us of how fear and prejudice led to the violation of civil rights for thousands of innocent people.

2025-08-03 22:07:43 UTC

I decided to focus on the Manzanar Japanese internment camp part of the mural. I chose this panel because I have extended family that endured this exact camp. During World War II, following the Pearl Harbor attacks by Imperial Japan (1941), Japanese-Americans were ripped from their homes and sent off to camps up and down the West Coast like Manzanar because of their Skin Color/background. It’s a shameful chapter in American history that shows how quickly fear can lead to injustice. It is a huge violation of civil rights.

The Mexican-American War

2025-08-03 22:59:25 UTC

The panel I chose to write about was the Mexican American war. Growing up in California made me realize that there was so much Mexican culture all around me. I never used to think much about it until I learned about this portion of American history in school. It always intrigued me how a forceful idea lead to an event that is very significant in North American history. It makes me wonder how California would be like if it was still part of Mexico, would my great grandparents still have moved here? I may never know the answer to that question, but the thought still interests me about the whole conflict.

2025-08-04 00:02:03 UTC

I chose to write about Mrs. Laws because it shows the time Black women were brave enough to speak up and refuse to move their families after the war in Watts. These women refused to move out of Watts because they were being racially discriminated against in their housing situations. This mural depicts immigration, racial justice, and women's rights. This panel can relate to many women now, especially people of color, and how they are discriminated against every day. This mural paints a picture of how things were back then, and how issues like these are still ongoing in the current day.

sylviabalyan3 — 2025-08-04 03:54:40 UTC

I chose the Legend of Califa from 1769 panel because it is a significant story in California’s history and mythology. This mural panel illustrates Califia, a mythical queen believed to have inspired the name of California, symbolizing strength, leadership, and the blending of indigenous and Spanish histories. The artwork’s vibrant colors and intricate details bring this legend to life, making it an important reminder of the diverse cultural roots that shaped the region. By sharing this image, I hope to honor the rich stories that contribute to Los Angeles' identity and encourage others to explore the deeper histories behind the city’s landscapes.

Rudolph Rodriguez

2025-08-04 05:44:38 UTC

I chose the Division of the Barrios & Chavez Ravine mural from the Great Wall of LA because it holds personal meaning for me. This mural depicts how families and communities were torn apart and forced to leave their homes due to new developments. This mural tells the story of the unfairness that many of the Mexican American families faced. I feel this painting pulls you in and makes you think of all the unjust things happening to this day. It brings the past and present into one.

Zanjas Madres Darker past

2025-08-05 05:44:30 UTC

I have chosen to write about the panel depicting a Native American overlooking the Zanjas Madre also known as mother ditch becuase not only does it display the major role it had on the establishment of Los Angeles but also of the injustices the native American had to face during that time period once you do a deeper dive into the history

vpazscs2019 — 2025-08-05 06:22:16 UTC

I chose The Zoot Suit Riots panel from the Great Wall of Los Angeles shows the racial tension and unfair treatment that Mexican American teens faced in the 1940s. During the riots, young men in zoot suits were attacked and targeted, which was a very important time in Los Angeles history. This panel talks about social justice because it talks about racism, discrimination, police inaction, and the fight for cultural identity.

2025-08-05 06:24:32 UTC

I chose this picture for the fact that I'm a man of science at times, and then Albert Einstein inspired some of my favorite heroes in fiction of all time as well as hes the most inspirational autistic person of all time.

The Division of The barrios and Chavez Ravine

2025-08-05 22:18:26 UTC

I choose the panel of the Division of The Barrios and Chavez Ravine. This panel particularly sticks out to me due to the many hispanic families that were forcibly kicked out and never got their homes back; one of the most egregious examples of a racist removal in LAs History. I believe the panel brings back a lot of the attention on how badly Mexican Americans were treated and helps the younger generation of hispanics understand their hispanic history in LA.

2025-08-05 23:39:55 UTC

The Great Wall Of Los Angeles will be on Luisa Moreno. This panel caught my attention. I chose this panel, was because I found out she was born in Central America and it interested me because some of my family is from Central America.

Luisa Moreno was labor activist for food and tobacco workers and was always focusing on the abuse of Latina workers. In the panel you can see a man behind her working.