On August 5, 2023, a riverside brawl erupted in Montgomery, Alabama, after a Black riverboat co-captain was attacked while attempting to dock the Harriott II. What began as an assault became a historic moment of resistance, unfolding on the same waterfront where enslaved Africans were once sold. The incident, widely shared on video, is now remembered as the “Montgomery Brawl” — but within the Black community it carries a deeper cultural meaning: Fade in the Water.

      Charlotte artist Cepeda Brunson was inspired by this event to create a painting titled Fade in the Water. The name draws from the spiritual “Wade in the Water,” a song he grew up hearing in the Southern Baptist church, which once carried coded messages guiding enslaved people toward freedom. That single painting grew into a series of three works, all of which are owned by Academy Award Winner  Film Director Spike Lee.

Today, August 5th is recognized by many as “Fade in the Water Day,” an unofficial holiday that honors resilience, culture, and history.