The Indianapolis Public Library's Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) is dedicated to celebrating the vibrant and resilient heritage and triumphs of those born of African roots. This space is for ALL who are interested in exploring the rich heritage that has influenced nations across the globe.

Murals for Justice Collection

Local artists of color were commissioned to create the murals in June, 2020, originally creating the artwork on the wood that was used to cover downtown windows amid protests of the police-involved killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Dreasjon Reed.

The Indianapolis Public Library’s Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) at Central Library partnered with artist, equity practitioner, and design researcher Danicia Monét and the Arts Council of Indianapolis to ensure that the murals were archived as a part of Indianapolis history. The murals were replicated on 3-by-5-foot vinyl banners and as high resolution images in the online collection Digital Indy: Murals for Justice, which includes information about the contributing artists. The murals will be available in the IndyPL online catalog indefinitely. This community-engagement initiative was funded through the generosity of Glick Philanthropies.

Large vinyl replicas of 28 Murals for Racial Justice are on display at Central Library through March 27 and can also be checked out with an IndyPL library card.

How to Borrow the Vinyl Banners

View the collection in the library's online catalog and place a hold by logging into your account.
The banners are housed at Central Library in the Center for Black Literature & Culture, but can be placed on hold and picked up from any IndyPL location.
The banners have a 42-day checkout duration and are not eligible for renewals.
Patrons can check out up to eight banners at once.

The Murals for Racial Justice project was initially organized by the Arts Council, Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc., PATTERN, St’ArtUp 317, and cultural entrepreneur Malina Simone Jeffers. This community-engagement initiative is funded through the generosity of Glick Philanthropies, and is a partnership between the Indianapolis Public Library's Center for Black Literature & Culture and the Arts Council of Indianapolis.

James Baldwin Speaks / Audrey Lorde Speaks

His Life Matters / Justice for Black Lives

{ "keyboardZoom": false, "autoLoad": true, "showControls": false, "mouseZoom": false, "default": { "firstScene": "start" }, "scenes": { "start": { "id": "start", "label": "Start", "hfov": 100, "panorama": "/uploads/panoramas/cblc-006.jpg", "hotSpots": [ { "id": "jk2r3f3p", "sceneLocation": "start", "pitch": 19.321401266738192, "yaw": 152.52202059508087, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Center for Black Literature & Culture", "entry": { "title": "Center for Black Literature & Culture", "id": "908", "slug": "center-for-black-literature-culture", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot", "div": {} }, { "id": "jk30plyx", "sceneLocation": "start", "pitch": -2.6269054580419384, "yaw": 157.97438839277208, "type": "scene", "sceneId": "rightWing", "text": "Right Wing", "cssClass": "Tour__arrow Tour__arrow--right", "div": {} }, { "id": "jk30otuy", "sceneLocation": "start", "pitch": -2.7196492102550485, "yaw": 147.69092923188677, "type": "scene", "sceneId": "leftWing", "text": "Left Wing", "cssClass": "Tour__arrow Tour__arrow--left", "div": {} } ], "pitch": 0.8063770932631082, "yaw": 152.93207549325774 }, "leftWing": { "id": "leftWing", "label": "Left Wing", "panorama": "/uploads/panoramas/cblc-002.jpg", "sceneId": "start", "hotSpots": [ { "id": "jk323yda", "sceneLocation": "leftWing", "pitch": -0.0028421463415253534, "yaw": -27.81780016706841, "type": "scene", "sceneId": "rightWing", "text": "Right Wing", "cssClass": "Tour__arrow Tour__arrow--up", "div": {} }, { "id": "jl8fmrf8", "sceneLocation": "leftWing", "pitch": -2.176203540342949, "yaw": 3.4264739804181286, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Wall Plaques", "entry": { "title": "Wall Plaques", "id": "1566", "slug": "wall-plaques", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot", "div": {} }, { "id": "jk323i98", "sceneLocation": "leftWing", "pitch": -2.6197003957389193, "yaw": -0.7325566345421208, "type": "scene", "sceneId": "start", "text": "Entrance", "cssClass": "Tour__arrow Tour__arrow--right", "div": {} }, { "id": "jl8fmizr", "sceneLocation": "leftWing", "pitch": -3.6074668147172617, "yaw": 120.14034452274429, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Amos Brown Award Case", "entry": { "title": "Amos Brown Award Case", "id": "1565", "slug": "amos-brown-award-case", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot", "div": {} }, { "id": "jle58sj2", "sceneLocation": "leftWing", "pitch": -1.1355745826840788, "yaw": -53.27120158675409, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Mari Evans Award Case", "entry": { "title": "Mari Evans Award Case", "id": "1593", "slug": "mari-evans-award-case", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot", "div": {} } ], "pitch": -0.8596186688976264, "yaw": 149.6146275667447 }, "rightWing": { "id": "rightWing", "label": "Right Wing", "panorama": "/uploads/panoramas/cblc-004.jpg", "sceneId": "leftWing", "hotSpots": [ { "id": "jk2r661q", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": 23.111658340255406, "yaw": -144.5342311695735, "type": "hotspot", "text": "The Avenue", "entry": { "title": "The Avenue", "id": "909", "slug": "the-avenue", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot" }, { "id": "jk30rttx", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": 22.20684217490605, "yaw": 18.57676762260277, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Window Panels", "entry": { "title": "Window Panels", "id": "915", "slug": "window-panels", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot" }, { "id": "jl8fl0fp", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": 3.671782303704745, "yaw": -117.64905775724492, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Music Collection", "entry": { "title": "Music Collection", "id": "1563", "slug": "music-collection", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot" }, { "id": "jk324m9f", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": 0.0000501488166891606, "yaw": -27.85085474778472, "type": "scene", "sceneId": "leftWing", "text": "Left Wing", "cssClass": "Tour__arrow Tour__arrow--up" }, { "id": "jk324a2o", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": -0.10465710136701487, "yaw": -47.57181105730581, "type": "scene", "sceneId": "start", "text": "Entrance", "cssClass": "Tour__arrow Tour__arrow--left" }, { "id": "jk30sbmo", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": -0.4855284151036907, "yaw": 81.04507439052189, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Emancipation/Freedom Collection", "entry": { "title": "Emancipation/Freedom Collection", "id": "916", "slug": "emancipation-freedom-collection", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot" }, { "id": "jk30qqvy", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": -1.4377297814327108, "yaw": 168.22658333678567, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Art Collection", "entry": { "title": "Art Collection", "id": "913", "slug": "art-collection", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot" }, { "id": "jk30rfua", "sceneLocation": "rightWing", "pitch": -3.9594211459800093, "yaw": -34.16819108306022, "type": "hotspot", "text": "Epicenter", "entry": { "title": "Epicenter", "id": "914", "slug": "epicenter", "section": "hotspots" }, "cssClass": "Tour__hotspot" } ], "pitch": 1.3762350548490876, "yaw": 149.76651124989522 } } }

Amenities & Services

Free Wi-Fi
Special collection
Tours by request

The creation of the Center for Black Literature & Culture is made possible thanks to a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Want to learn more about the Center for Black Literature & Culture?

Contact us. We'd love to show you around!

Contact Us

Center for Black Literature & Culture

Central Library

Also in this section

Murals for Justice Collection

How to Borrow the Vinyl Banners

Amenities & Services

The creation of the Center for Black Literature & Culture is made possible thanks to a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Want to learn more about the Center for Black Literature & Culture?