An innovative mural blending art, technology, and sports is captivating residents and visitors in Miami’s Overtown district, offering an augmented reality experience that highlights Black culture and history. The artwork, titled Overtown Pitch: Game Changers, spans 11 by 18 feet on the site of the former Carver Hotel, a historic hub for Black visitors during a time of segregation. Using a QR code, people can scan the mural with their cellphones and engage in an interactive game where they aim to score goals within 30 seconds, competing on a virtual leaderboard. This engagement aims to deepen connection with the neighborhood’s rich cultural roots during Miami’s Soul Basel, part of Miami Art Week, connecting art, Black diaspora history, and local stories through digital innovation. The mural’s timing is purposeful, capitalizing on the excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across North America, including Miami. Miami’s role as a World Cup city underscores the event’s importance and reflects the city’s growing engagement with global sports. Artist Stefan Smith, a Miami native, emphasizes that this project is designed to honor both the global significance of soccer and the local heritage of Overtown, a historically Black neighborhood that has faced both cultural vibrancy and economic disinvestment over the years. The mural features two iconic soccer players of African descent—Crystal Dunn, a U.S. women’s national team star and World Cup champion who has helped diversify the sport, and Kylian Mbappé, captain of the French national team and a prodigy who made history as the youngest player to score in a World Cup final since Pelé. Smith noted that the artwork also draws inspiration from local stories like that of the Miami Edison girls varsity soccer team, which, despite facing homelessness and resource shortages, recently won a regional championship, symbolizing resilience and perseverance. The choice to focus on these narratives aims to celebrate untold stories of struggle and achievement within Black and immigrant communities. The location of the mural carries historical significance: the site of the former Carver Hotel served as a cultural hub amid segregation, with Smith’s grandmother having worked as a secretary there. The hotel’s decline reflects the broader impact of urban renewal projects like interstate construction that displaced Black residents and dismantled economic stability in Overtown, resulting in loss and resilience. These themes are central to the community’s ongoing efforts to preserve and share its history through art and dialogue. During Soul Basel, Smith will join figures like Dr. Dorothy J. Fields of the Black Archives and Marilyn Holifield of MoCAAD to discuss how art and technology can amplify Black voices. Organizer efforts aim to foster conversations about Black culture, history, and innovation, leveraging soccer’s universal appeal as a tool for community engagement. Smith believes that soccer continues to grow in underserved areas across the United States, making it a powerful vehicle for cultural expression and community building. The mural and its interactive elements serve as both a tribute to the community’s resilience and a call to celebrate untold stories of strength and hope, aligning local history with global sporting events to inspire future generations.
image source from：wlrn
