During the 1990's in the bay area the graffiti scene was booming, In Oakland, the king of graffiti Mike"Dream"Francisco lead the way in creating masterpieces he made incorporating his own thoughts and beliefs that influence generations of activist and hip - hop artist and graffiti artist/crews today on the values of activism: radical education, social justice, speaking the truth, and the importance creative self expression that gave Oakland's Hip - Hop atmosphere/culture, a visual artistic picture and community voice.
To those who knew the king, he was described as a "well - outspoken individual that was never afraid to speak out on the problems that his community faced," and teaching about the word "reality" and what it meant for those living in the struggle that "people die everyday". Opening the eyes of the public, bringing a whole another meaning to the word "vandalism" which is seen as a crime, he seen it as a way to express the thoughts a individual that is constructive instead of resorting to acts of violence.
Mike Dream and his crew TDK (Those Darn Kids) influence the 90's hip - hop culture to wake people and those who don't know what was happening in the ghettos, the killing, police brutality and drugs and the social injustice that was going on at the time. He wanted to give a voice to his community that didn't have at the time. He life was cut short when he passed away last February 17Th 2000, victim of a robbery he was shot and killed. February 5th in Oakland is Mike Dream day, he became a Bay Area Legend, well respected and will never be forgotten.
I never met dream personally but he gave me inspiration of being that individual that the youth look up to bringing positive change to some ones life in anyway possible. Mike Dream lives on through his message and his pieces on Unity and it will continue to inspire generations to come.
"You can't give up what you see in the streets, you can dream but never sleep" -DREAM
Picture by:"http://594apparel.com/events/livin-the-dream/
