‘Mother Culture’ honored with portrait

BLOOMINGTON – The legacy of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center’s first director is being celebrated with a new portrait. The painting of Caramel Russell, known as “Mother Culture,” was recently unveiled during a virtual event that also featured stories about Russell’s impact on the Bloomington campus and its students.

A portrait of Caramel Russell is now on display in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs

Russell was known for her unapologetic willingness to challenge and support students. Her portrait now hangs inside the center.