FHN + George “Lassie” Belt + Stanton Center Kids
May 5-6, 2018
Whitmore Garage, between Washington & Calvert Streets, Annapolis, MD

Pearl Bailey is the subject of a mural created in collaboration with George “Lassie” Belt and kids from the Stanton Community Center located in what is now Annapolis’ 2nd Ward, but will always be know by many as the Old 4th Ward. The mural is painted on the exterior of the Whitmore Parking Garage, which, during urban renewal and the civil rights movement, replaced 33 minority-owned businesses and numerous homes. On this once-thriving block existed a number of entertainment venues such as Susie’s Tea Room, Dixie Hotel, and The Washington Hotel, where singers such as Pearl Bailey once performed. While this history is new to some of our young collaborators, older residents reminisced about having known Pearl Bailey or attended her performances in the old neighborhood.