Eleanor Holmes Norton announces she wants Lincoln "Emancipation" statue removed from Lincoln Park

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a black woman I just cannot feel good about removing one of the rare memorials paid for by those who were enslaved. They did not feel that the symbolism -- showing vulnerability that today elicits such deep discomfort -- reduced their dignity. If the imagery did not offend them, if they did not mind having their gratitude depicted artistically in this fashion, why must we? The fact that black people paid for it makes all the difference to me. I wonder sometimes if there is difficulty in dealing with the fact that we have needed the help of the privileged to effect social change. Lincoln expressed support for sending all blacks back to Africa if in so doing the Union could be saved. AND YET he was critical in the emancipation of the enslaved. The duality disturbs all of us but that is the nature of any complex person or thing or system of ideas like democracy. Let's add another plaque that provides extensive historical context and erect a statue of a black abolitionist nearby. There are other ways to expand and enrich the historical narrative.

Um, most of what you’ve said is rendered null by the fact that the freed slaves had no artistic input. Even Frederick Douglas didn’t like it at the time.

DP
Also black and I agree with the this OP’s sentiments. Include more context and erect more statues. Continue the conversation, and don’t promote vandalism.

By the way, the statue of Martin Luther King, contracted out to the Chinese, looks nothing like him. No artistic input from people that should’ve been consulted. Remember all the criticism when that was unveiled?

A friend of mine worked on fundraising for this memorial for years and years and years. Took forever. You make a good point PP. But people want "perfect", they want 50/50 hindsight, and they want to backseat drive once the ride is over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boston, which has a copy of the statue, will be removing it. Their arts commission voted unanimously— concluding that it was time for the statue to go, following generations of requests for the removal of the statue. Yay Boston!

Were there really generations of request for the removal? Other than the usual cranks?

The DC statue never generated noteworthy controversy until this year. I suppose I see why some people are offended by it, but they're offended by it in 2020, not 1865.

Black citizens in both cities have objected to the statues for many decades. I know that in DC there were objections as soon as the statue was put up. So I guess it’s up to you as to what you view as”noteworthy” objections. Both cities had Black owned newspapers if you’d like to check contemporary reports.