Say Her Name | J Ford's Powerful Mural Featured in Apple TV+’s Swagger

J Ford was commissioned to create the "Say Her Name" mural for Apple TV+’s Swagger, a sports drama created and directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood and executive produced by NBA icon Kevin Durant. The series is loosely inspired by Durant’s own upbringing and explores the world of youth basketball, ambition, and community pressures.

Ford’s mural appears in Season 1 delivering a bold and emotional statement within the series’ visual narrative. The phrase Say Her Name serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for recognition and protection of Black women, a message that aligns powerfully with the show’s themes of resilience and social commentary.

By spotlighting the mural, Swagger expands its storytelling beyond the court to the larger world where love, justice and identity intersect. Placing meaningful art in this context amplifies its voice, inviting viewers to pause, reflect and engage.

For Ford, the project fused his commitment to advocacy and creative expression. The mural became a sacred space for protest, remembrance, and empowerment all without relying on dialogue but on visual truth.