During the 1980s, the Reagan administration’s “Just Say No” drug campaign seemed like a promising idea in theory and made for some great, free tees and buttons, but in practice, the initiative failed miserably. When it came to the drug game, there was just too much money to be made (in the streets and in Washington) and for many nationwide, saying yes to Coke, Weed and Crack was much more rewarding than saying no. During the mid-to-late-80s, many concerned community leaders, local citizens and even artists joined forces to combat the Crack cocaine epidemic that was systematically ravaging their inner-city neighborhoods. One such artist from New York, Antonio “Chico” Garcia, was extremely pro-active in utilizing his artistic talents to paint Public Service Announcements throughout his Lower East Side neighborhood. Whether it was an aluminum gate that memorialized the brutalization and death of graffiti artist Michael Stewart or a dilapidated wall warning neighbors of the impending doom in small colored vials, Chico’s murals brought home the message in larger than life color.

Chico’s “Crack Kills” wall, a PSA he painted in 1987 and documented by lens great, Jamel Shabazz, warned viewers to think “once,” not “twice” about using Crack cocaine. Shabazz’s best-selling book, A Time Before Crack beautifully documented many young men and women of color, spirited and fresh as ever, before Crack and Aids prematurely took their souls. Graffiti art back in the 70’s & 80s provided many young men (and women) in New York a creative voice; an outlet to rejoice and share colorful vibes and one to share their pain and plight. Artists like Chico, armed with just a sketch, a few cans of spray paint and a purpose, could speak to urban New York’s masses with greater clarity and results than any multi-million dollar ad campaign.

With Crack’s worst behind us, the “Crack Kills” wall is a sad reminder of the genocide that once was and testament to the power of visual art and why a picture is still worth a thousand words. Chico and Jamel Shabazz recently collaborated with new lifestyle brand A THOUSAND WORDS for a limited edition ‘Crack Kills’ t-shirt. For more info on the shirt visit www.athousand-words.com and for more on the incomparable Chico and Jamel Shabazz visit http://www.chicoartnyc.com andhttp://www.jamelshabazz.com.  -Koe Rodriguez