Photo by: Oscar Herrera
On Interstate 45, drivers are greeted with graffiti saying “Be Someone” while entering the city of Houston.
Houston is no stranger to murals and graffiti all over the city, symbolizing current events and the culture of the area. This sign, in particular, calls all Houstonians to be who they are.
In a lot of ways, Houston is representative of what the United States symbolizes – the great melting pot. You can find a hole-in-the-wall ramen place and barbeque joint all in one lane. People from multiple nationalities and ethnicities call Houston their home.
The iconic graffiti can be traced back to the early 2010s when an anonymous artist decided to add some color to the Union Pacific bridge. It is widely believed the artist wrote those two words to inspire Houstonians to pursue their passions and overcome obstacles to be who they want to be, according to HTown Best.
The city is home to a large immigrant community. Every one in four Houstonians is foreign-born — approximately 1.7 million out of the 7.2 million people in the Houston area, according to a 2021 American Community Survey.
It is the fourth largest city in the U.S. and home to NASA. International students from all over the world come to further their education at the University of Houston, Rice University, Texas Southern University or other institutions within the borders of the area.
To be in Houston means to meet people from different backgrounds and ethnicities as well as experience new cultural experiences and make your own story. For such a diverse city, filled with rich culture and different people, the sign “Be Someone” symbolizes the uniqueness each resident signifies.
Each person has the chance to build our lives in this iconic city, built like no other. Whether it is dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in July or Hurricane Harvey back in 2017. The city comes together and is “Houston Strong.”
Over the years, the sign has faced change, just like everything in life. In June 2020, the name “George Floyd” was painted, in response to the Black Lives Matter protests that shook the entire nation.
In 2022, the sign was painted to say “No War Know Peace” in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Over the years, the graffiti has signified many cultural and curial moments, not only in the history of the city, but in the world. In many ways, simple words painted across the bridge force Houstonians to think about themselves and the world around them during their daily commutes.
The iconic part of Houston was once thought to be gone after someone defaced the graffiti in May 2021. However, the sign was back again in September 2022, according to the Houston Chronicle.
These are just two simple words: “Be Someone.” There is nothing more written with it or a detailed note by the artist explaining their vision to the city. But, these words do provoke Houstonians to think about who they want to be.
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