(Syracuse, NY) Jazz Fest founder & executive producer Frank Malfitano announced that work on “Legendary Syracuse Firsts” – a six-story mural dedicated to Racial & Social Justice pioneers Earl Lloyd, Manny Breland, Dolph Schayes and Breanna Stewart in Downtown Syracuse – began this past week when internationally ranked sports mural artist Jonas Never arrives in Syracuse for a one-month residency.
The mural, which will be located on the east facing wall of the Monroe Building located in downtown Syracuse at 333 East Onondaga Street, is expected to be completed in time for the opening of this year’s Syracuse Jazz Fest on June 23rd and was funded entirely by private donations raised by Malfitano.
Malfitano said today’s national events, continued racial unrest, renewed antisemitic attacks, and an ongoing increase in hate crimes served as the motivation to create the mural. “Syracuse and Central New York have had a long and proud history of fighting for justice that dates back to the Underground Railroad and the Jerry Rescue in the 1860’s, said Malfitano, “But there are far more recent examples of the important role Syracuse has played in helping bring about racial and social justice in America in the modern era that began in Syracuse in the 1950’s and continue on today in the 2020’s that we hear very little about. Hopefully this mural will increase people’s awareness that the struggle for justice and human rights continues on to this day, and that it is a battle we must continue to fight.”
A partial list of the mural project’s many national and regional sponsors includes the Wayne Sheridan Foundation, AT&T, National Grid, Syracuse University, Price Chopper, St Joseph’s Health, CNY FAMLY CARE, the Jewish Federation of Central New York, 100 Black Men of Syracuse, Jewish Community Center, TCG Player and the Bousquet Holstein Law Firm. Additional support was provided by individual contributions from notable Syracuse boosters and members of Syracuse’s Jewish and African-American communities, including Syracuse Common Councilor Patrick Hogan, Rosalind Blue, Theardis Martino, Greeley Ty Ford, Mr & Mrs Bernard Bregman, Barbara Davis, Gregory Sorrentino, Dr & Mrs Joseph Augustine, Cindy Oppenheimer, Steve Sisskind, Anthony Malevenda, Martine Burat, Gary Lavine, Gregory Sorrentino and Laura Lavine.
Legendary Syracuse Firsts – Downtown Mural Has Begun
The mural, which has received the support of the NBA, WNBA, USA Basketball and FIBA International, is being created to honor four Athlete-Activists with ties to Syracuse who have individually made an impact on improving racial and social conditions in America. The mural’s Artist, California’s, was recently named “One of the Top Ten Sports Muralists in the World” by the BBC.
The mural’s four honorees, who battled racism, antisemitism, sexism, sexual child abuse, and homophobia – while distinguishing themselves on and off the court as champions of social and racial justice and gender equity – are:
Earl “Big Cat” Lloyd: the first African American player to play a game in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1950, and the first African–American to play on an NBA championship team (Syracuse Nationals 1954-55). Also the NBA’s first bench coach.
Manny Breland: Grew up in the city’s African-American 15th Ward, and was the first Black man to be offered a scholarship to play basketball at Syracuse University. He played at SU from 1952-1957, helping the 1957 team earn an NCAA tournament bid for the first time in school history. He was also the city of Syracuse’s first African-American HS Science teacher, HS principal and HS head basketball coach.
Dolph Schayes: Widely regarded as the first modern basketball forward, Dolph Schayes is best known in Philadelphia as the first coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, following the team’s move from Syracuse in 1964. Two years later, he coached the 76ers to the NBA Title and was named NBA Coach of the Year. A graduate of NYU before permanently relocating to Syracuse to become a member of the Syracuse Nationals NBA team, Schayes has long been considered the first Jewish Superstar in professional sports. Schayes has been named one of the Top 50 Players in NBA history, and is the man who led the Syracuse Nationals to the NBA Championship in 1955 when the Nats defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in 7 games to capture the city’s only professional championship.
Breanna Stewart: Became the first woman to earn four NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors and only the fourth freshman in history to earn the honor… Is the first & only athlete, male or female, to win four Naismith Trophies, having won three in college and one in high school. Drafted first by the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, Ms Stewart is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist, 2-time WNBA champion, and a 2-time honoree as the WNBA’s Most Outstanding Player.
For more information, Contact Frank Malfitano at fmalfitano@syracusejazzfest.com
