Mari Evans: Indianapolis icon of Black Arts Movement remembered

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Throughout the month of February, WISH-TV is celebrating Black History by sharing stories of remarkable African Americans who made great contributions to the Indianapolis community.

Mari Evans was an African American poet, writer, television host and professor who championed the Black Arts Movement in the Circle City.

Her face may be recognizable because her likeness appears on a larger than life mural painted on the side of a building at the corner of Mass Avenue and Michigan Street, signifying her dedication to Black culture in the city.

Her mission was always to depict African American life in Indianapolis, with themes of love, loss, liberation and faith.

Born in 1919 in Toledo, Ohio, Evans moved to Indianapolis in 1947 and made her home here. She became a prolific poet and writer, a musician and professor at Purdue and Indiana University. In later years, Evans produced, wrote and directed a show called “The Black Experience” on Indianapolis Public Television.

Evans died in Indianapolis on March 10, 2017, at the age of 97.

She was a champion of African-American culture in Indianapolis and beyond.