The student murals in Hannah Hall on the campus of Texas Southern University embody the culminating experiences of a people as seen through the eyes of student artists. Almost from the beginning of the art department in 1950, it became a ritual for art students to paint murals on the walls of their temporary building. By 1952, the art department had moved to the third floor of the newly built Hannah Hall. Under the direction of distinguished muralist and artist Dr. John T. Biggers, the murals were intended to foster pride in the artists' heritage and the self-identity of a people. They became the art students' theses and dissertations, and when a mural was judged superior by a professor, it was allowed to remain. Some dating to 1950, the murals cover several eras and themes. They depict mostly the lives of African Americans, portraying brutality committed against them and the hurt and injustice they endured through their history. Some express the artists' feelings about hope, faith, and religion, while others present defiant, bold, and striking images of oppressive police, brutal slave masters, and unforgiving nature. Overall, a theme of survival amidst insurmountable odds is apparent. The murals are a cultural treasure of Texas Southern University, Houston, and the State of Texas.