In a tribute nestled within the heart of Los Angeles’ Crenshaw neighborhood, Congresswoman Maxine Waters has found herself immortalized alongside the likes of rapper Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant in a striking new mural, weaving her into the legacy of figures deeply revered by the community.
The National Urban League, an organization committed to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities, bestowed this honor upon Waters, affirming her status as a pivotal figure in both political and community circles.
The mural, crafted by local artist Demi Lauren, was unveiled last weekend.
Waters, who has served in Congress since 1991, representing various districts in Los Angeles, expressed her profound honor at being featured on the wall, underscoring the significance of her inclusion alongside Bryant, an NBA legend, and Hussle, a Grammy-nominated rapper and community activist who was tragically killed in 2019.
I am so honored that this community has sponsored my image on the wall in the Crenshaw area. My image joins the wall with the depictions of Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle. This wonderful artistic rendering was accomplished by a young local artist. What an honor! pic.twitter.com/DC90DLWcsF
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) February 27, 2024
“I am so honored that this community has sponsored my image on the wall in the Crenshaw area. My image joins the wall with the depictions of Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle. This wonderful artistic rendering was accomplished by a young local artist. What an honor,” Maxine Waters stated.
Waters’ engagement with the mural, and by extension her visibility within the hip-hop community, is further highlighted by recent interactions with prominent figures such as Megan Thee Stallion.
Maxine Waters has praised Megan for her musical talent and advocacy, particularly in the context of the rapper’s op-ed for The New York Times where she discussed the importance of protecting Black women.
Most of the comments under her Twitter post highlighting the new mural were positive, but of course some people had issues with Waters, who can sometimes be controversial.
