Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force selects Bennie White Jr. Ethiopia Israel as 2023 MLK Community Service Award recipient

January 26, 2023

share this on  Facebook   Twitter   Email

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force of Southfield selected Bennie White Jr. Ethiopia Israel as the recipient of the 2023 MLK Community Service Award at the 38th Annual Celebration following the Southfield Martin Luther King Day Peace Walk on January 16.  

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force of Southfield honors one individual each year who best exemplifies the qualities of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nominees must be committed to the advancement of human and civil rights, active in community service, and reside or work in Southfield or Lathrup Village.

“Bennie White Jr. Ethiopia Israel became well known in Michigan and across the United States for his mural of Malice Green after the national police brutality issue was raised in America,” according to Dorothy Dean, who has served as Chair of the Community Service Award Committee for the last six (6) years.
                
“Each year the Task Force looks for an individual who has contributed to the community in a unique way in keeping with the ideals of Dr. King. This year we were fortunate to have an artist who was able to contribute to the civil rights movement through art,” according to Faira Glen, President of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force, Inc.

Ethiopia Israel

Mr. Israel was born in Detroit, Michigan.  His talent as an artist was first discovered as a third grader at Higginbotham School in the Detroit Public School system.  After working as a draftsman and artist for the United States Air force, he returned to civilian life inspired to continue his training.  With the G.I. Bill from the Military, Mr. Israel received a degree in Commercial Art and Advertising Design from the Society of Arts and crafts, now known as the Detroit College for Creative studies.  In 1967 he received a degree in Fine Art and Painting. He became well known for the truthful tone of his early work, often reflecting an unfair system and society.

“I am honored to receive this award “Mr. Israel said during his acceptance speech. “My most satisfying work was on the Malice Green mural, which I later wrote a book chronicling the story of how the mural came about,” he added.

Mr. Israel created the Malice Green Memorial Shrine in 1992 and gained worldwide exposure.  The Malice Green Memorial started the creation of neighborhood shrines for loved ones impacted by violence.

In 1993, Mr. Israel was commissioned to paint a 20 by 75-foot-long mural of Black Heroes on the AAA Party Store on East Warren in Detroit.  Mr. Israel travelled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and painted a three-story mural monument of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was on Death Row at the time.  This mural was completed two weeks before his scheduled execution in 1995 and had an impact on “foiling” the execution.

The city of Southfield was the first city in the state of Michigan to hold a Dr. King peace walk or march. The first Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Walk in Southfield took place on January 20, 1986, commemorating the first national observance of Dr. King’s birthday. The walk continues to grow in size and scope each year with year-long educational and community activities. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force, Inc. is a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers committed to advancing the principles and ideals of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.