On June 4th, 2020, I left home for the first time since the world shut down, stepping into the streets of downtown Houston as it gathered to honor the May 25th, 2020, murder of George Floyd. The city was filled with people from different backgrounds, representing a range of identities and positions, united in a common call. The usual boundaries faded, replaced by a shared sense of purpose. As an H-Town native, artist, and educator, I felt responsible for witnessing and documenting this collective action and solidarity moment. Each photograph serves as a testament to civic grieving and civic resolve.

As a Black man, the personal impact of Floyd’s murder made it difficult to approach this work right away. It took three years before I could return to the images and consider how to present them. Time allows for reflection. It creates space to see not only pain, but also endurance and resolve. 

Now, five years later, this exhibition examines how a city registers loss, how public presence resists erasure, and how images enter collective memory. H-Town Hurting returns these photographs to their place of origin. Viewers encounter themselves, their city, and a moment of decision.

The work asks: What remains when protest signs and slogans fade? What endures after crowds disperse? This exhibition serves as a visual record, presented back to the community it portrays, inviting reflection on memory, accountability, and the ongoing struggle.