Graffiti only plays a small part in Painted Black, really, but it speaks to what it is I’m trying to say. In Painted Black, Chris creates art (aka graffiti to most people’s eyes) as therapy, to express feelings he’s trying to deal with. It is also an ironic contrast to the invisibility of homelessness. People don’t see the artist, they see the paint on the wall. Maybe that’s one reason why graffiti gets such a bad rap, because it is harder to ignore than the people
The paragraph below is the beginning of an essay written not by a homeless person, despite what it might sound like. It is actually an essay by a 16-year-old gifted student who is a junior in high school. Alix Glynn spent two weeks participating in Impact Boston — a community service, social action and advocacy summer program — which included one day of living the life of a homeless person. He was one of 13 people selected to work with Spare Change News — Boston’s alternative newspaper written and sold by the homeless to support themselves and encourage change.
After the program, he began volunteering at a local homeless shelter, something he might not have done had he not experienced how a smile and “Have a good day” can mean even more than a few quarters in a cup.
It’s a quintessential summer day, and Boston Commons is abuzz with activity. Across the avenue I carefully scrutinize the passers-by — a 20-something quickly moving her designer messenger bag to her other side, a middle-age man wearing a Red Sox cap clutching his young son closer, a group of teenagers staring as if I had two heads and five eyes, a college student typing on his smart phone almost stepping right over me and not bothering to apologize. Eventually, a woman drops a few quarters in my cup, but she scurries past before I even have a chance to say thank you.
Debra R. Borys 