Nelson Stevens found himself in the position of proving to the professors and the people in the Art Department that there was such a thing as ‘Black art’ he began to research the Wall of Respect in Chicago and ran into great resistance his professors believed that there was no prejudice in art; prejudice existed but certainly not within the world of art. Nelson developed the concept that ‘art was for the sake of people’.

The birth of the 1960’s Black Arts Movement ignited an important cultural event among its participants. Many African American musicians, poets, writers, and visual artists began to turn their craft to address themes of Black pride, self-determination, and Black culture. Emerging from this movement was a unique Chicago-based artists’ collective, calling themselves first COBRA (Coalition of Black Revolutionary Artists) in 1968 and then in 1969, AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists).