The argument is bound to start up again soon. Where did graffiti originate? In Philly, we claim it’s ours. But NYC has been laying its claim for quite a while. All I have to say: Cornbread tagged the Jackson 5 Jet in Philly. Anyway, this book traces the rich history of not just grafitti, but public writing. You may not think there’s a difference, but this book should answer all the questions like the egghead from your third grade class. Covering the sixties to the eighties, Public Wall Writing in Philadelphia presents pictures of a culture with a message to send, in any form, from the subway station to the street corner. From a grafitti tag to a shout to your main girl, this book shows how an urban, decayed environment can still find the beauty in the smallest, simplest, yet effective ways.