Broward will get a fresh look on a busy thoroughfare. And the reason is to break from its racist past.
A historical-theme mural painted on the north wall of the Broward County Governmental Center parking garage at 101 SW First Ave. off Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale that was created almost four decades ago will be made anew.
The central theme in the original mural is now dominated by Gov. Napoleon Bonaparte Broward , the county’s namesake, who was also a segregationist whose comments from a century ago have drawn scrutiny.
A document that Broward wrote during his term in office called on Congress “to purchase territory, either domestic or foreign, and provide means to purchase the property of the negroes at a reasonable price and to transport them to the territory purchased by the United States.”
The mural has run its course: “Some people found it offensive when there was nobody of color, rather just white settler culture,” said Phillip Dunlap , director of the Broward County Cultural Division: “It’s an opportunity to add something new to downtown Fort Lauderdale.”