Teacher Encourages Students to View Themselves as Artists
PBS · August 13, 2026Original source ↗

What happened
Blu Murphy, an artist and educator in Washington, D.C., is helping her students recognize their identities and communities through art. She addresses the impact of redlining in her work with young people. Shane Mukasa from PBS News Student Reporting Labs shares the story.
Why it matters
This story highlights the role of education in promoting self-identity and community awareness among students.
How this story affects people
How does this story affect you if you are a student in Washington, D.C.?
This story highlights how art can be a powerful tool for self-expression and community awareness. By engaging with their identities through art, students may develop a deeper understanding of their backgrounds and the historical context of their communities.
How does this story affect you if you are an educator in an urban area?
You may find inspiration in Blu Murphy's approach to integrating social issues like redlining into your curriculum. This could encourage you to foster a more inclusive and reflective learning environment that empowers students to explore their identities.
Want this written about you?
The breakdown above is the shared version, for kinds of people. In the app, Ripple uses your job, your city, and your family, then writes that part about you.
Get your RippleMore stories
- EducationThe Role of Technology in Education and Its Impact on Student Learning
- EducationUpdate to school civil rights survey excludes data on gender identity and nonbinary students
- EducationAfghan women operate clandestine schools for girls amid education restrictions
- EducationPrivate School Chain Eligible for Texas Taxpayer-Funded Vouchers After State Rejections