It’s an Equality Thing

Not the promise that everyone should arrive at the same destination.

But the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to begin their journey.

Years ago, I created a piece about equality.

At the time, the idea felt simple.

Not easy.

Simple.

To me, regardless of race or gender, equality means every person has the same jumping off point.

The same chance to discover what they were capable of becoming.

It never had anything to do with outcomes.

People are different.

We have different interests.

Different talents.

Different ambitions.

Different definitions of success.

The beauty of humanity is that we are all different.

One of my favorite pieces was painted on the side of a four-story building in Downtown Los Angeles.

The message read:

Diversity is a gift.

Shine and let shine.

Life would be boring if we were all the same.

What matters to me is the choice to participate.

To try.

To build.

To fail.

To succeed.

To contribute.

If you make it you make it.

Time passes no matter how you spend it.

I’ve painted in cities all over the world.

I’ve spoken with billionaires, people with nearly nothing and everything in between.

Collectors.

Entrepreneurs.

Politicians.

Street artists.

Children.

Parents.

Everyone wants to be bigger than they were yesterday.

That’s the human desire for expansion.

That’s the version of equality that still resonates with me.

There’s no promise that everyone will arrive at the same destination.

But there is room for everyone to try.

That’s the idea that has stayed with me all these years.

Not because it’s political.

Because it’s human.