The Robert E. Lee Monument is located in Richmond, Virginia. It is to honor Robert E Lee who was a General in the Confederate Civil War. He was born on January 19th, 1807. He married Mary Ann Custis, who was George Washington’s wife’s Great Granddaughter. He led the Army of Northern Virginia which was arguably the confederacy’s most powerful army, and was a top graduate from the United States Army (Wikipedia). During his lifetime he was known for owning over a hundred slaves, which he fought very hard to keep.
The monument was first built in 1890 by Antonin Mercie. During that time period Robert E. Lee was known as a war hero and a master strategist, as well as his role in promoting peace and reunion after the American Civil War. But in current time most see the monument as a Confederate symbol that provided a rallying point for advocates of racial segregation and oppressive Jim Crow laws (Gershon). During the time period nobody felt any disliking towards the monument. During his time, many were extremely fond of Robert E. Lee and looked up to him. It was said that many organizations were formed with the idea of building a monument in honor of Robert E. Lee.
This Monument sends the message that we glorify Robert E. Lee. In this Monument he is built towering above everyone viewing the Monument. Having a Monument up like this in our current time gives off the idea that we still stand behind Robert E. Lee’s awful point of views and ideas for America during his time. Even if times have changed since the monument was first made, keeping it up only feels like a stand with Robert E. Lee and his point of views.
Controversy
This monument and others were clear signs of white supremacy and racial segregation. This was during the time that the North wanted to abolish slavery and the South did not. The South did everything in their power to keep some sort of control over the African American population even after slavery was abolished in 1865.
People’s views of the Monument have changed drastically. During the 2020 George Floyd movements many people called for the removal of the statue. Although the courts fought back and blocked the date of removal (June 4th 2020) with a pending lawsuit. This Monument is extremely controversial and has received plenty of backlash in recent years. Many people disagree that someone like Robert E. Lee should have a Monument after his clear stand against segregation. He had views including that slavery was a “peculiar institution as necessary to maintain order between the races.” and he “resented northerns who attacked the motives and character of slave holders.” And believed that “slavery was a greater evil to the white than to the black race.” He also believed that slavery was something that needed to be left in the hands of god, not argued about between the North and the South. During the 2020 riots there was graffiti and signs left around the Robert E. Lee monument. One including a sign reading “Welcome to Beautiful Marcus-David Peters Circle, Liberated by the People MMXX.” Which was in honor of Marcus-David Peter who was shot and killed by police in 2018. The graffiti covered monument became a common place for people to portray images of racial justice and empowerment. This included people displaying videos and images of people including George Floyd through projection at night. The New York Times also deemed the graffiti on the monument “among the most influential American protest artworks since World War II” Even with heavy push back from the courts the State Supreme Court decided that the statue should be removed on September 8th 2021. Robert E. The Lee monument was moved to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The vacant pedestal which was full of the graffiti from the protests, was later dismantled in February 2022.
Lee himself was conflicted about the core issues of his day. He was a slave owner who some say was cruel and a general who fought to preserve the institution. But he personally described slavery as a “moral and political evil” that should end. Before the war, Lee opposed secession, but once his native Virginia voted to leave the Union he declared he was honor-bound to fight for the Confederacy.
The Valley of the Fallen is a beautiful monument erected in the memory of those who died on both sides of the Spanish Civil War (36-39). Unfortunately its history is tainted by the influence of the dictator Francisco Franco, who is remembered by Spain in quite a controversial light.
The Monument
El Valle de Cuelgamuros is a multi-building structure consisting of a Basilica, a Benedictine Abbey, a guesthouse, several monoliths, and the valley itself. It is also topped with the tallest Christian Cross in the world at 500 ft tall. The monument was built as a way of uniting two halves of a broken nation, split by a recent civil war, and entombs fallen soldiers and civilians from both sides of said conflict. It was also the “final” resting place of Francisco Franco until recently.
Francisco Franco
To garner a better understanding of the controversy surrounding this building, it is best to look into the man who had it built. Francisco Franco was a military leader in Spain leading up to the rebellion which resulted in the 3 year long Spanish Civil war. Throughout the war Franco would commit many atrocities, including placing his enemies in internment camps to be “rehabilitated” through work. Franco had also made temporary allies of both Hitler and Stalin during this time. Following his victory, Franco was made the dictator of Spain.
During his time as dictator, Franco continued his “rehabilitation” of the Spanish people through forced labor camps, as well as executions of his political enemies. Culturally, he suppressed many practices with foreign influence and promoted ideas that he deemed were good enough to create a good image of Spain. Religiously, he repressed any beliefs that were not catholic (as is evident by the worlds largest cross I’d imagine). The total number of deaths from his rule are estimated anywhere between 30-100 thousand people.
He did, however, finally end the economic stagnation that had befallen Spain due to their international isolation, which is why some more modern politicians and citizens will still look back on him as a good leader, or at least a necessary evil. Franco died in 1975 and was entombed in the Valle de Cuelgamuros.
Francos Exhumation
Recently Spain has begun to reflect on its past and the consequences of the Franco regime. Up until now, the impact has mostly been ignored to prevent divisiveness among the spanish people, but seemingly it’s no longer a subject that certain people can tolerate to ignore any longer. A committee dedicated to the remembrance of those killed during the civil war has been pushing for reexamination of Franco and his policies, and ultimately this pursuit of the truth has lead to the exhumation of Francos remains from the monument. Many citizens are split over whether this should have happened or not, with wide ranging opinions, but clearly the movement to reconcile with the past has gained significant steam. This exhumation is not just a denouncement of Franco but of the tragic past that Spain has been trying to ignore.
Monuments represent a multitude of things and don’t always commemorate a person directly. In some cases, monuments are used to advance political ideologies, culture, and “unity,” with a man’s legacy cemented in an indirect manner through his subtle incorporation within a monument meant for the people.
Porfirio Diaz is the longest-serving President in Mexico’s history, a role he occupied by any means necessary. Diaz was born in Oaxaca City on September 16, 1830. Following the death of his father as a young child, Diaz had to work as a carpenter’s assistant and learned valuable basic skills. Although he was admitted to a seminary, Diaz joined the National Guard during the war with the U.S. However, it wasn’t until the War of the Reform in 1858 that he participated in any fighting, distinguished himself, and became a brigadier general. In 1862, he became known for his role in the victory against the French in the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1861. His time in the army gave him credibility and respect, which resulted in the state congress of Oaxaca supporting his candidacy for President of Mexico. Diaz lost the election, and Benito Juarez was reelected following the reelection of Juarez; Diaz launched the revolution of f La Noria in protest of what he claimed to be a fraudulent election and demanded that Presidents only serve one term and after the death of Juarez in 1872, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada became president. Porfirio Diaz prepared for his subsequent rebellion. In January 1876, Diaz revolted and called for no reflection and municipal freedom. This time, however, his revolt succeeded, and Diaz became President on November 23, 1876. and remained in office until November 30, 1880. However, this didn’t last long because at eighty years old, Diaz became President again in 1884 until he was overthrown in 1911.
Porfirio Diaz aimed to modernize Mexico and did accomplish this during his rule. Mexico’s economy and industry advanced. International businesses invested in mines in Northern Mexico and in the central and southern regions, and companies restructured agricultural lands. They succeeded in making them more effective in food production, and railroads were built, which increased the export economy. However, the modernization of Mexico under Diaz’s rule came at a price. Mexico has developed economically for some, but most people have fallen behind. While the elites of Mexico grew in wealth and influence, most of the population was pushed aside and neglected every day, working to stay alive. Under the Diaz rule, the rights of citizens were ignored, rural police forces were formed to maintain “order” with the people, injustice and inequality grew, and people were evicted from their lands and homes to make way for commercial development. By 1910, Mexicans were poorer than they had been forty years earlier.
This all ended on May 21, 1911, when the revolutionaries against Diaz succeeded in unseating him and his advocates in the Treaty of Ciudad Juarez with Francisco Madero resulting in Diaz being forced to resign and leaving for Paris where he died in 1915 and is now buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
About the Angel of Independence
The Angel of Independence was unveiled on September 16, 1910, a significant date because it’s when Father Miguel Hidalgo called on the people of Mexico to rise against their Spanish rulers and made the legendary “Grito de Dolores” “Cry of Independence) on September 16, 1810. The monument was created under Porfirio Diaz’s presidency to commemorate the first hundred years of Mexico’s independence from Spain. Antonio Rivas Mercado, a French-trained architect, Mercado studied architecture and design throughout Europe but specialized in capital cities. He created the monument and oversaw the project in its entirety. This iconic landmark is located in Mexico City at the intersection of Paseo De La Forma with Florencia and Rio Tiber. The monument is made up of a large column, 9.5 feet in diameter. Atop the column is the golden angel, and has rings, flowery medallions, and statues of a lion being led by a child; the base of the column contains statues of independence heroes, including Father Hidalgo, who’s placed at the center and above the other statues, and Jose Morelos, Vicente Guerrero, “La Patria,” on the four corners of the column’s base are the “virtue” statues of four women sitting.
However, it is essential to note the monument was not supported by Mexicans during the beginning stages of its creation. People believed the 155-foot monument would obstruct the city view line. After it was unveiled, the angel was received in a more positive light and eventually became a symbol of Mexico itself, beloved by all.
As iconic as today’s angel is, it isn’t the original angel unveiled in 1910 on the night of July 29, 1957, when Mexico experienced an earthquake that split buildings and skyscrapers in half, crumbling houses and apartments, and killed several people. This is known as the night the angel fell. Under Adolfo Ruiz Cortines’s presidency, a new angel was commissioned, and efforts to rebuild were led by Jose Maria Fernandez Urbina, who intended to model the new angel after an American girl. Mexicans were outraged when they found out and demanded to know why their beloved angel couldn’t be pieced together, with some people going as far as against the angel being rebuilt and believing the entire monument should be taken down and placed in a museum where statues belong. In the end, Fernandez attempted to piece together what was salvageable of the original angel but was required to use new parts where necessary, including an old wing that needed to be replaced altogether.
Significance
The Angel of Independence is “a symbol of nationalism, sophistication, and modernity; a reminder of a victorious past and a beacon leading to a more promising tomorrow. “(Dixon) El Angelito (Little Angel) is beloved by Mexico and it is held with much pride it is the sight of ceremonies, parades, and celebrations such as the annual September 16 independence day parade. It is so significant because it depicts the most important moment in Mexican history, the moment of independence. Nevertheless, the sentiment the Angel of Independence has on Mexico is completely due to Diaz; the way the monument is expressed is the same way that he commemorated independence. The monument is embedded with political, economic, and cultural messages embraced by Diaz and his government while they worked on transforming Mexico, City, and the rest of the country; by creating this monument, Diaz was able to reestablish national identity to be less “American” and more “Latin” this idea closeness through a larger Latin family was a myth created by the elites of Mexico which in 1910 the idea of unity between all Latin countries could represent the pinnacle of modernity and while maintaining the cultural heritage of Mexicans. Throughout history, leaders have used monuments to legitimize their authority and cement their legacy. This is the case with the Angel of Independence but done more subtly; let’s begin with the 155-foot column; columns represent, yet a simple architectural design has significance; they are aimed to commemorate the achievements of men, accomplishments, and the triumph of an idea. Although the monument can be seen to celebrate independence and General Miguel Hidalgo (located at the base of the column), Porfirio Diaz is commemorated through this monument. His government left a lasting stamp on Mexico City by expressing Mexican identity. The column is to aggrandize and honor Diaz for being the one to modernize Mexico with its emerging Latin Identity. Even the location of the monument was strategic. Paseo de la Forma was chosen because it is the place where thehave the most powerful economic, political, and cultural influence while at the same time stren monument could gthening the urban transformation in the city. The Angel of Independence connects a major moment in history to a larger discourse of Mexican modernization. Porfirio Diaz wanted Mexicans to believe the monument was a symbol of triumph for all by asking the council he selected to organize the creation of the memorial to go around and ask citizens, architects, and the elites what they wanted the monument to be and then proceeded to completely ignore everyone’s opinions and ended up following his idea.
Conclusion
All in all, The Angel of Independence, despite its origins, continues to be a beacon of strength and pride in Mexico. It is a sight to behold by everyone and is the center of every single type of celebration. It is important to note that, like this monument, there are several other monuments raised by leaders that may depict an ideology but are used to commemorate themselves. The Angel of Independence will continue to be beloved by its citizens and won’t be going anywhere soon.
References
Allen Seeger. “Mexico prepares for its centennial next month: Birthday of the Republic to be celebrated with ceremony — The story of its independence is full of stirring interest.” New York Times (1857-1922), Aug 14, 1910, pp. 1.
Conaway, Janelle. “Viva Mexico Celebrating the Bicentennial of Independence and the Centennial of the Revolution.” April 15, 2024.
“DIAZ UNVEILS GREAT MONUMENT: INDEPENDENCE MEMORIAL IN MEXICO CITY.”The Hartford Courant (1887-1922), Sep 17, 1910, pp. 16.
Dixon, Seth. “Making Mexico More Latin: National identity, Statuary and Heritage in Mexico City’s Monument to independence.” April 15, 2024.
“END OF THE DIAZ REGIME.: DEPUTIES UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPT RESIGNATION — WILD SCENES IN STREETS.” New York Times (1857-1922), May 26, 1911, pp. 1.
Gonzales, Michael. “Imagining Mexico in 1910: Visions of the Patria in the Centennial Celebration in Mexico City*.” Journal of Latin American Studies, vol. 39, no. 3, 2007, pp. 495.
Miller, Juliana. “The Angel of Independence.” HistoricalMX, April 30, 2024.
Special to The New York Times. “MEXICO RESTORES A ‘FALLEN ANGEL’: STATUE THAT CRASHED IN 1957 EARTHQUAKE IS REPLACED ATOP 155-FOOT COLUMN.” New York Times (1923-), Sep 07, 1958, pp. 119.
I had chosen to write about Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass is an important part of today’s society. He serves as a hero and icon especially to African-American communities because of what he believed in. In this essay, I will be talking about the monument dedicated to him as well as the symbolism it serves to the community and society as a whole. Firstly I will be talking about his background and what he had endured growing up. He endured many obstacles growing and the obstacles, challenges, and risks he encountered only made him the man he became and what he stood for.
Background Information
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery around 1818 in Maryland. He does not have an exact birth date and it is unknown. His mother was considered to be enslaved. As a kid, Douglass was treated very poorly and went through severe conditions while being a slave. Frederick Douglass had been beaten as a child by slave owners. He had gone through bad labor while working to the point where he had terrible back pain. All this that he had endured was a push for motivation to be free. As a kid, he was separated from his mother at an early age, and his mother ended up passing away from being terribly sick. Frederick Douglass had learned to read and write on his own and as he matured he realized that he’d had to escape for his own freedom. On September 3, 1838, he escaped by posing as a sailor and fled north. He had got on a train to Baltimore and headed straight for Philadelphia. He also got free working papers from a freed slave and took on from there. Ultimately he ended up residing in New Bedford Massachusetts. Since Frederick Douglass knew how to read and write, this led to many books journals, and became famous due to this. He was an abolitionist and pushed for freedom. He had also pushed very hard for Women rights as well.
Before we get into the monument it is important we also understand the overall controversy of slavery and the Civil War. Douglass played a huge role in the whole war by being an advocate for the enlistment of African American soldiers. He had encouraged African- Americans to join the Union Army. He also believed that serving in the Union army would not only help secure victory for the Union but would also show them were worth enough for citizenship. He believed that America was not only for white Americans and actively worked hard to that ensure African- Americans were treated fairly and to ensure that everyone was equal. Being a former slave himself, his experience led him to speak and write about slavery and how it was very brutal and dehumanizing. Frederick Douglass writing about his experience supported the abolitionist movement and helped. His book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” published in 1845, talked about the brutal things he endured while being a slave and his journey to be free. He continued to talk and write about slavery and strictly went against it. He also talked about African- Americans having higher purpose in war. He also met with Abraham Lincoln to advocate for African American soldiers and to free slaves. Frederick argued this would be a difference maker in the war.
Statue construction
The monument is located in Harlem, New York. The construction of the statue began in 2010. Through efforts from the community and funding, it was publicly opened in 2011. Overall the designs and efforts came from Gabriel Koren and Algernon Miller. The two men had won the design competition organized by the Central Park Conservation for the Circle in 2003. The statue is made from bronze and granite and stood at 8ft tall. Gabriel Koren and Algernon Miller were both known sculptors and had looked forward to designing the statue. The only question this raises is why they took so long to start building the statue. It took 8 years for them to actually begin construction which is unfortunate. Frederick Douglass is a big part of today’s history, so I feel as if should not have taken eight years to begin building this project. It taking eight years to start construct also brings up questions if they even cared to construct it. What was the delay that it took 8 years to construct. How the did the sculptors feel about it? The fact that it had taken 8 years just overall raises a lot of questions.
Monument and what did it symbolize
The monument symbolizes his achievements as well as contributions to civil rights. The monument serves as an inspiration for the Harlem community. We could say the monument also symbolizes to fight for equal rights, equality, and justice. Equality for not only African- Americans but to everyone. We should have equal rights no matter what race you are. The back wall of the statue consists of the big dipper in order to guide African Americans who used the underground railroad. The monument is important and serves as a reminder of Frederick Douglass’s history of not only standing up to injustice and slavery but fighting for it too. Douglass’s life stories, in which he talks about his escapes and obstacles from slavery and his determined push for freedom and equality, represent the value of bravery and perseverance while struggling.
For the Harlem community, it serves as a reminder of the struggles and successes experienced by their ancestors and as a connection to their ancestry for the Harlem community. It honors Frederick Douglass’s legacy and helps the fight for justice and freedom for the city of Harlem. Furthermore, the monument’s location in Harlem could serve as a center for African American events and discussions about important issues in society, pushing activism and unity in the community because this is what Frederick Douglass stood for. The community also came together for federal funding and with the help of this, they innovated the “Northside”. With all that being said, the Frederick Douglass monument in Harlem is an important part and also creates motivation and reflection of the community’s history and background. There is no controversy over the monument and is visited frequently since it’s located in Central Park, New York. Central Park is considered one of the biggest parks in New York so that should mean something.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I thought overall this monument was very unique and served a great purpose and reminder to African Americans and our history. Frederick Douglass actively pushed for freedom and equality. With everything talked about, Frederick Douglass’s life and legacy represents an example of the strength of bravery with constant problems in front of his face. Douglass’s life story, from his start as a slave to his rise to popularity in the abolitionist movement, symbolizes the victory of the human spirit over injustice. His monument symbolizes perseverance, dedication, and overall success in my opinion and to the community as well. What he fought for was right, the monument itself should always be treated and respected because that is what Frederick Douglass stood for.
Cecil Rhodes is a figure of the 19th century who remains a deeply controversial figure especially because of his exploits in Africa, mainly the southern part. Being a British imperialist, Rhodes played a very paramount role in the expansion of the British Empire, particularly in Southern Africa. His course of actions and legacy, however, bring about confusion about whether the man should be celebrated or condemned as a failure. My objective with this essay is to explore the controversies that surround his work and relate it to his statue that was toppled in South Africa.
My semester aim is about a British imperialist and businessman, Cecil John Rhodes. He was born on July 5th, 1853 in Bishop’s Stortford, England. He was the 6th child and 5 more came after him. He came from a very big family. His father was a reverend and his mother was from a wealthy family. Cecil Rhodes displayed great signs of ambition and intellect at a young and tender age. In his early teenage age, he was diagnosed with asthma which led to him being unable to study for long periods and was eventually forced to leave school and continue home-schooling under the tutelage of his father. After he was done with school, Cecil Rhodes decided to choose a career in law but his family feared for his health. In 1870, when he was 16 years old, Cecil Rhodes received an invitation letter from his elder brother (Hebert) who had left two years ago to start a venture cultivating cotton in the British colony of Natal, on the southern-eastern tip of the continent of Africa. He got approval from his parent and even his doctor, considering the dry climate in Africa would be good for his present condition and lungs.
After a year of overseeing his brother’s cotton plantation, in September 1871, Cecil decided to join his brother who had left the cotton field in search of new expenditure in the diamond field. Rhodes quickly amassed wealth and power through his exploits in the diamond and gold mining industry. He became very successful in that business and he founded the De Beers diamond firm and the British South Africa Company which controlled global trade until recently. But his ambition was way beyond economic influence and recognition. He was more focused on establishing British dominance in Africa starting from South Africa. He was such a controversial figure during his time and after his death. He acquired wealth and vast land by forcefully taking them from people. He assigned mercenaries to attack and take land from people. He also used explosives from his mines to blow up caves which women and children used as a refuge. He gave out scholarships allowing overseas students an opportunity to study at Oxford University and there are still scholarships in his name to this day. Many institutions benefitted from his generosity (including Cape Town University, which is the focus of this project). He conquered so many lands in southern Africa with the British South Africa Company which was in support of his works and ambition. Some of the lands were even named after Cecil Rhodes. Both Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) were named after the man. He became the prime minister of the Cape colony from 1890-1896. During his reign as prime minister, he engaged in discrimination against the black majority. He was considered to be a racist, and also one of the individuals who helped set the path for apartheid (separation, setting aside) by altering laws concerning voting and land ownership. He limited the black vote by raising the standard of financial and educational qualifications.
His ‘Confession of Faith’ is based on his belief that the ‘Anglo-Saxon Race’ was superior to every other race. It was no debate that he thought of the English race as a ‘Master Race’. Everything he did was an attempt to create an international movement to extend British influence in the whole world. Even though it ended up a failure, he gave support to the Jameson raid in 1895 to overthrow Paul Kruger as Afrikaner president of the gold-rich Transvaal republic. As a result of the raid, the Second Boer War started and it claimed so many lives. Now we will see how his actions affected people’s view of him and his monuments.
My focus is on the monumental statue of Cecil Rhodes in Southy. The statue was located in Cape Town University, South Africa. It was made of bronze and placed on a concrete pedestal. It was a denkmal that showed recognition to a man of influence and power. The statue was a seated Cecil Rhodes who had his palm to his chin, almost as if he was thinking. This pose was a suggestion from the former viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The statue was commissioned in remembrance of Rhodes’ bequest of land to the university. It was located in the center of the university, so it was hard to ignore or not take notice of. It was sculpted by Marion Walgate, Wife to the architect, Charles Walgate. The statue was finally unveiled in the year 1934, 32 years after the death of Cecil John Rhodes, and it stood up for 81 years. The message that was being portrayed was that Cecil Rhodes still holds great impact and control. It shows that he still has a great effect on the political and educational sections of the country. There were no clear feelings shown towards the statue when it was put up but I believe that the people bottled up the feeling of dissatisfaction until they couldn’t anymore.
The demand for the removal of the statue began due to a realization from the citizens that this was a step to take for change to begin because they still felt tied to his philosophy and beliefs. The demand for the removal of this statue appears to be “a metaphorical call for the transformation of the university’s curriculum, culture and faculty, which many blacks feel are alienating and still reflect a eurocentric heritage”. The people were not accepting of the legacy that Cecil left behind.
“It is the statue that continues to inspire [white people] to think that they are a superior race and it is through collapsing of these types of symbols that the white minority will begin to appreciate that there’s nothing superior about them”
Julius malela, leader of the economic freedom fighters
The protest for the removal of the statue began on March 9th, 2015, when Chumani Maxwele threw a bucket of feces on the Cecil seated statue. To show how controversial Cecil was, at the same time there was another movement led by Ntokozo Qwabe taking place at Oxford University in the UK. The whole movement was named #RHODESMUSTFALL. The statue was finally toppled on April 9th, 2015. It took them only a month to gain permission to take the statue down. I think the removal of the monument helped the people to gain a little closure about the past as Cecil really did a lot of harm to the people and the land. And of the things I really love about this is that they took the process of asking for the statue to be removed instead of just vandalizing the statue. Yes, they were wrong to throw things on the statue and write on it but they followed procedure after that, had a whole debate on why the statue should be taken off, and received permission for that. When Cecil died, he was buried in Zimbabwe. There are still requests in Zimbabwe going out to have Rhodes’ remains moved to the UK. I believe his statues will continue to hold controversial meanings to them. People are obviously not ready to move on from that part of history.
Martin Luther King Jr was born into a family that strongly rooted in the African American Baptist tradition. Martin Luther King Jr was a Baptist minister and social rights activist. He organized a number of peaceful protests and was the head of the Southern Leadership Conference. Not only was King smart, he was brilliant. King excelled academically and went on to attend Morehouse college at the age of 15. It was during his time at Morehouse that King began to deepen his understanding of social justice and activism. King then went to pursue advanced studies in theology, earning a doctorate from Boston University in 1955. Mr King had also followed his fathers footstep and was a pastor of the “Ebenezer Baptist Church.” He had also graduated and earned another bachelor in medicine and law and divinity. He organized a number of peaceful protests and was the head of the Southern Leadership Conference, including the March on Washington of 1963.
The Beginning
Martin Luther King Jr. got started in the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery, Alabama, when he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. This boycott started after Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white person. It was King’s first major role in fighting against racial segregation. King’s powerful support for peaceful protests caught the nation’s eye and encouraged more activism against injustice. The March on Washington, where King delivered his speech, was an important event that brought together thousands of civil rights activists from diverse backgrounds. The primary goal was to advocate for civil and economic rights for African Americans and to urge the government to address systemic racism. After the bus boycott, King kept fighting for civil rights, especially to ensure African Americans could vote. In 1965, he organized the Selma to Montgomery March to protest for voting rights. State troopers violently clashed with the marchers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and the disturbing scenes on TV shocked the country. This event helped push Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a major win for the Civil Rights Movement. In the speech, King uses strong language and emotional words to make an impact. He starts by talking about American history and the ideas of freedom and equality from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. King also uses references from the Bible to connect with the audience’s sense of right and wrong. But soon later, King talks about his dream for a future where people of all races live together in harmony and justice. He repeats the phrase “I have a dream” to show his optimism and hope for a society without racial prejudice and discrimination. He describes a world where people from different races come together, including children playing happily regardless of their race or ethnicity. This paints a picture of unity and overcoming racial divides. And the nation’s failure.
The Assassination
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr was unfortunately assassinated. He was fatally shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The assassination occurred at a time when Dr. King was in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers who were protesting unfair working conditions and low wages. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr was a tragic and significant event in American History. It shocked the nation and sparked widespread outrage and mourning. The man responsible for the assassination was Jame Earl Ray. He was later apprehended and convicted of the crime. Ray’s motivation for Mr King’s assassination was rooted in racism and opposition to Dr. King’s message of equality and civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact goes far beyond his time alive. His work helped pass important civil rights laws and end Jim Crow segregation. But more than changing laws, King’s ideas made people think differently about fairness and inspired many to stand up against injustice and inequality for years to come.
The Monument
Fast forward to August 22, 2011, A memorial was built in the National Mall in Washington D.C. and was chosen to commemorate King’s significant contribution to the civil rights movement and his impact on American society. This was done after more than two decades of planning, fund-raising, and construction. The production of the memorial began in 2009. It was created by Lei Yixin. This process took a while due to fundraising issues and debates on where the location of the memorial should be. The monument was created to dedicate Martin Luther King Jr for his Leadership and Inspiration and the impact that he made on the civil right movement. Mr. King’s movement was so powerful that the memorial is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a popular destination for tourists, scholars, and those seeking inspiration from King’s legacy. After this monument was created, there were a bunch of mixed emotions about this monument. Many people think that the monument should be kept the way it is while others say that the monument should make some adjustments to it, as they’re disappointed and that it doesn’t reflect King’s dreams or the civil right movement. While others think that it reflects on Dr. King’s powerful legacy and contribution to civil rights. They may feel a sense of reverence and respect for his leadership and the impact of his work. The monument symbolizes hope and progress in the ongoing fight for civil rights and social justice. It serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work that still needs to be done today.
Conclusion
Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a special tribute to Dr. King and his leadership in the civil rights movement. It was created to honor his belief in fairness and equality. The memorial’s design features a large sculpture of Dr. King emerging from a stone, showing his dedication to justice, equality, and peaceful activism. The monument of Mr. King goes far behind just being a monument. It serves as a reflection of inspiration attracting visitors from around the world who seek to learn from Dr. King’s leadership and the lessons of the civil rights movement. Ultimately, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial stands as a beacon of hope and progress, reminding us of the transformative power of courage, compassion, and collective action in the pursuit of a more just world. Dr. King’s legacy continues to resonate today, inspiring future generations to uphold the principles of equality, justice, and dignity for all.
References
Carmichael, Stokely. “Mourning the Death of Martin Luther King Jr..” National Museum of African American History and Culture, 3 Feb. 2020,
Institution, Smithsonian. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..” Smithsonian Institution, www.si.edu/spotlight/mlk. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Bartution, James. “Martin Luther King, Jr.. Memorial (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/mlkm/index.htm. Accessed 1 May 2024.
On September 11th, 2001 an Islamic terrorist group called al-Qaeda targeted the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. It was a series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks. There were a total of four commercial planes that were hijacked by 19 terrorists. At 8:46 am Flight 11 was hijacked and crashed into the North Tower which was the first World Trade Center. 17 minutes later at 9:03, Flight 175 hit South Tower. At the time of the attacks somewhere between 16,400-18,000 people were in those two buildings combined. On top of that, a third plane (Flight 77) hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. When finding out about the news, people on the fourth plane (Flight 93), which was headed towards The White House, fought back and crashed in western Pennsylvania. The impact ultimately made both towers collapse due to the fires and damage. Unfortunately, 2,977 people ended up dying in the attack overall, while 2,753 of these individuals were in New York (“9/11 FAQs”). Additionally, first responders such as police and fire departments were urgent to the scene of the attacks and over 400 of these individuals were killed (Bergen). The effects of the attacks were not only physically impacting, but also had emotional effects on two-thirds of Americans. This day was so significant that about 97% of Americans can specifically recall what they were doing in the moment that they heard about the attacks (Rosenberg).
“These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.”
Former President George W. Bush on Sept. 11, 2001. (Gore)
“Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
Former President George W. Bush (September 11 Attacks: Facts, Background & Impact)
The Memorial
The memorial is now known as Memorial Plaza and is located in New York City, New York. It holds two pools exactly where the North and South Tower used to stand. Additionally, there are 30-foot waterfalls into said reflecting pools. The names of the individuals who were killed in these attacks, and people who had died in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, are printed on the edges of these pools. On North Pool, lie the names of the individuals who were in World Trade Center North, Flight 11 and people who died on February 26th, 1993. On South Pool, the edges of the pool have the names of the individuals who were in World Trade Center South, Flight 175, Pentagon, Flight 77, Flight 93 and first responders (Friedman). The overall design shows the missing buildings and emptiness that is held in those spots where the buildings used to stand. Additionally, there is also a museum with numerous different stories and artifacts from the day of the attack. On top of the focus point of the two pools and museum, there are two other sights, the Survivor Tree and the 9/11 Memorial Glade. One Callery pear tree was discovered in October 2001 underneath the collapsed and rubble of the collapsed towers. The tree was nursed back to health and returned to Memorial Plaza in 2010 as a sign of resilience and perseverance. The 9/11 Memorial Glade recognizes the determination and perseverance of the individuals that worked on recovery efforts at the three sites. This includes the first responders and recovery workers, relief workers and volunteers, World Trade Center survivors, lower Manhattan residents, students and workers and people who cleaned buildings in the vicinity of Ground Zero (“About the Memorial”). “Ground Zero ” is a term referred to as the remaining area. “After the devastating attacks at the World Trade Center in September 2001, the site surrounding the Twin Towers that was impacted by the plane crashes was named “Ground Zero”, or “The Pile” to refer to the rubble that was left in the wake of the terrorist attacks” (“9/11 Ground Zero: Where Humanity Survived”).
NYC: National September 11 Memorial, Wally Gobetz, https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/7150647113, CC BY-NC-ND)9/11 Memorial, Dave Z, https://www.flickr.com/photos/zawrotny/8306069668, CC
Designers
The designers for the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, NY were two architects named Micheal Brad and Peter Walker. The opening of the memorial was on September 11th 2011, which marks the 10th year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Alternative Designs
There were over 5,000 submissions from 63 countries to the international design competition for the overall design of the memorial. This competition was held by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (“10 Glimpses of the 9/11 Memorial that Could Have Been”). Some other options for this memorial were:
Entry 145 by Dave Hamption, Jr. and Micah Land. The vision for this memorial was a meditative space and ossuary where there would be gardens where the towers used to stand, this would be a “place of reconciliation.”Entry 183 by Yaacov Agam. The aim was to create a transformable moving rainbows which would be a universal sign of hope and peace.Entry 148 by Jorn Ophee. He envisioned a “Memorial Power Tower” which would produce power for all of New York City. This memorial would be 330 ft tall and have two turbo engines.
Message
The message that the monument is sending is honoring the “people who are no longer with us because a group of Islamist terrorists took them from us far too soon” (Blais, Rasic). Additionally, it lets their lives be remembered for future generations so they are never forgotten. Above all, the museum powerfully narrates the story of survival. “symbolizing a narrative of American identity that dominates in the museum – the can-do, don’t give up spirit of resiliency that we need as a narrative here, one that helps us screen out the brutal American actions that were taken in revenge for 9/11” (Sturken).
“Nobody ever wants to forget those people who passed away that day. Those people were brothers, wives, mothers, sisters, friends. And those people should be remembered in every way possible.
Jillian Suarez (Victim Ramon Suarez’s Daughter)
Initial Thoughts
When first built, this deeply moving monument revleaved much emotion and compassion. Loved ones were able to see their victims’ names written on the pools, and everyone saw the missing space where the two towers used to stand. Individuals felt a sense of emptiness as the pools left an outline of something that used to be extraordinary. “It should not be surprising that it is in telling the story of the actual day of September 11, 2001” (Sturken). It unfolds the most compelling stories and confusion that occurred on the day of the attack. It shows the compassion, resilience and sacrifice that individuals and victims faced that day, and following days after the attack. “In the stories told here, visitors see and hear details that are chilling, and they are reminded of the initial confusion as the events unfolded” (Sturken). Visiting the pools initially reminded everyone of the empty gap that is left in their hearts along with physically left in the middle of New York City.
Current Thoughts
After looking at a blog by Amy and Andrew, it is clear that even today people think of the memorial to be a peaceful and well displayed memorial. Additionally, the comments follow this path as many shared their own stories of how they remember September 11th, 2001 and how the memorial is difficult to see, but important to go and remember the events and lives that were lost.
The views of this monument have not been changed since it has been put up. When it was originally put up, the effects and visuals of the memorial might have been significantly more heartbreaking since it was closer to the time of the event. Now that people have had the time to deal with the grief, it could be easier to go and memorialize. Although it might still be extremely hard to look at, it won’t be as breaking since it was put up over 10 years ago.
In conclusion, the 9/11 Memorial stands as a reminder of the lives lost and the resilience of the American spirit. It reflects and tributes the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks. Despite the numerous alternative designs, the chosen design emphasizes the loss and a symbol of strength and unity.
References
“10 Glimpses of the 9/11 Memorial That Could Have Been.” Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 9 Sept. 2016, www.vanityfair.com/news/photos/2016/09/the-911-memorial-that-could-have-been.
“9/11 FAQs.” 9/11 FAQs | National September 11 Memorial & Museum, www.911memorial.org/911-faqs. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
“9/11: As Events Unfold.” YouTube, YouTube, 11 Sept. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEogeIIOJzU.
“About the Memorial.” About the Memorial | National September 11 Memorial & Museum, 911memorial.org/visit/memorial/about-memorial. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Amy, Andrew. “Thoughts on Visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum.” Our Big Fat Travel Adventure, 1 Jan. 2017, ourbigfattraveladventure.com/2016/01/12/thoughts-on-visiting-911-memorial-museum/.
Bergen, Peter L. “September 11 Attacks.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 25 Apr. 2024, www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks.
Blais, Allison, and Lynn Rasic. A place of remembrance: Official book of the National September 11 Memorial. National Geographic Books, 2011.
Friedman, Jordan. “The Meaning Behind Arrangement of the 9/11 Memorial Names.” 9/11 Memorial & Museum , www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/meaning-behind-arrangement-911-memorial-names. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Gobetz, Wally. “NYC: National September 11 Memorial.” Flickr, Yahoo!, 30 Apr. 2024, www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/7150647113.
Gore, Leada. “‘Never Forget’: 22nd Anniversary of 9/11 Marked with Quotes, Inspiration, Memorials on Patriot Day.” Al, 11 Sept. 2023, www.al.com/news/2023/09/never-forget-22nd-anniversary-of-911-marked-with-quotes-inspiration-memorials-on-patriot-day.html#:~:text=“These%20acts%20of%20mass%20murder,”%20%2D%20Former%20President%20George%20W.
“A Look at the 9/11 Memorial.” YouTube, YouTube, 8 May 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndeXJVi1jEo.
Rosenberg, Stacy. “I. Americans and 9/11: The Personal Toll.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 5 Sept. 2002, www.pewresearch.org/politics/2002/09/05/i-americans-and-911-the-personal-toll/.
Sturken, Marita. “The 9/11 Memorial Museum and the Remaking of Ground Zero.” American Quarterly, vol. 67, no. 2, 2015, pp. 471–90. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43823084. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.
Just like many statues, this has its pros and cons. But sometimes the cons weight more than the pros do. So than the question comes to be, what should we do about it and if we should even do anything. Is it worth erasing what many like to call history or should we embrace the story that was given to us.
The Statue was created in 1893, standing tall at 6.6 feet high and 4.5 feet wide. It was created to be a “heroic” size. The statue showed Columbus to be in mid stride, with his left foot stepping off the base. He has his left hand holding a globe, right arm is raised and he is pointing with his index finger. Columbus is wearing a short tunic with a belt that wraps his waist, has a second belt across the hip holding a sword. There is a cloak around the statue and a coil at the figures feet. Finally the words “Columbus”, “1492”, and “1893” are engraved around the square base of the statue where he stands.
Biography/Background on Columbus and the builder The statue above memorializes Christopher Columbus. Born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy and died on May 20, 1506 in Valladolid, Spain. He was an Italian explorer who sailed to westward to the New World in 1492. Columbus became one of the most important figures in western civilization. He changed the the thrust of European expansion for the next 500 years.
The artist was Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, born in 1834 in Colmar, France. He is also well known for building the Statue of Liberty. The Columbus statue was created for the 1893 Columbian Exposition of the World's Fair that was being held in Chicago, Illinois. However, that was not the statues final destination. It was later brought to Providence Rhode Island in late 1893.
What did people think?
During 1893 the statue was very famous and very loved even before it was even seen. It was said that the Columbian Exposition of the World’s Fair that was being held in Chicago was packed, there would be lines waiting to see the statue. A news article from November 6 1893 used words like masterpiece and heroic; symbolizing how much the the statue was cared/ loved for. In other words the statue was memorialized way before it was seen.
Controversy of the Statue
Before its removal activists believed that the statue ignores rape, murder, and genocide of indigenous people during the European settlement of North America in the 1400s. It was removed in 2020 during the riots and during the time that other statues specifically Columbus statues were also getting removed for the same reason. However, this removal was not easy. Many people were not happy about its removal because it was Italian history but others disagreed. Columbus was not the first and only European to do wrong in North America but he is praised for the good things he did and not for the bad things, so why shouldn’t he not be recognized for the wrong doings that he did? The statue unlike many others was not destroyed but graffitied all over. The statue was taken down and placed in storage, were later it was bought by former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr for$50,000. Current major Joseph Polisena Jr. strongly believed that “people should learn about him, the good and the bad”
“It’s important and not just for Italian Americans. It’s American history. It’s world history, if you look at it from a historical perspective.”
Josesph Polisena Jr.
The Rebuilt
After the purchase that the former Major did he did not decided to bring back the statue until 3 years later. But why did he wait so long to bring the statue back? It is believed that he waited because there was a lot of riots during the year of 2020 but not only did the riots impact the the rebuilt but also the pandemic delayed the rebuilt. One thing lead to another and it was pushed back for another 3 years. On September 26, 2023 in Johnston, Rhode Island the statue was unveiled. The statue was now in Johnston Memorial Park after being in Columbus Square for many years in fear that is would get vandalized again. Many people were not happy with this decision, it went to the extend that the Black Lives Matter president in Rhode island stated ” it should not have been resurrected after it was taken down.” So the question comes to be why bring it back up? Many stated that is to celebrate Italian history, heritage and the culture. The current major stated that “it’s unfair to use the standards of today to measure the actions of someone who lived five centuries ago.” Which while this is true it does not change history and the things Columbus did. Many indigenous families are still suffering not because of what Columbus did over 5 centuries years ago but because of the beliefs that people have when they see the Columbus statue and its representation. We do not have to keep the Columbus statue to show / celebrate Italian heritage and culture, there are other ways. So the question still stands to be why keep Columbus and do the struggles that indigenous families went through not matter? Why not have an indigenous person representing history?
“If we had German pride that was synonymous with Hitler, everyone would be outraged. Yet somehow, this is normal.”
protster
Overall, There are many questions that not only I have but many also have. There are so many different ways to show history but it certainly does not have to be someone who was known for causing more harm than good to thousands of innocent people. But yet there are many that are willing to do anything to keep a statue.
•“Columbus Day Dispute: A Once-Removed Statue Reappears in Rhode Island.” The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2023, www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2023/1006/Columbus-Day-dispute-A-once-removed-statue-reappears-in-Rhode-Island. Accessed 01 May 2024.
•“Controversial Columbus Statue Unveiled in Johnston.” YouTube, 10 Oct. 2023, youtu.be/NdsSbgF_bAA. Accessed 01 May 2024.
•DaSilva, Melanie, et al. “Controversial Columbus Statue Unveiled in Johnston.” WPRI.Com, 10 Oct. 2023, www.wpri.com/news/local-news/northwest/controversial-columbus-statue-unveiled-in-johnston/#:~:text=The%20statue%20is%20officially%20put,the%20city%20earlier%20this%20year. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
•Humanities, National Endowment for the. “The Providence News. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, June 01, 1893, Image 3.” News about Chronicling America RSS, Heaton, Langtry & Co., 1 June 1893, chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91070630/1893-06-01/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1893&index=3&rows=20&words=Columbus&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=Rhode+Island&date2=1895&proxtext=columbus+&y=1&x=10&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
•Humanities, National Endowment for the. “The Providence News. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, November 06, 1893, Image 1.” News about Chronicling America RSS, Heaton, Langtry & Co., 6 Nov. 1893, chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91070630/1893-11-06/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1893&index=11&rows=20&words=COLUMBUS+Columbus&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=Rhode+Island&date2=1895&proxtext=columbus+&y=1&x=10&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian Sailor who wanted to sail across the Atlantic ocean to find a quicker route to India. The Italian government did not want to sponsor his journey so he went to Spain and the Spanish sponsored his trip. Launching from Palos De La Frontera in Spain, he traveled over the Atlantic Ocean in three ships, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Columbus thought he landed in India but he really landed in the Caribbean around the Bahamas. This then opened a new time in history with the mass colonization of North and South America where Spain mainly occupied Central and South America and the British and French went into North America. With this discovery this caused the Columbian Exchange where things were traded to and from Europe and the Americas, like agricultural products like corn, livestock and spices.
About the Statue
The Statue was put up in 1927 by John DiBiase in Washington Square in Newark New Jersey. The statue was protested and taken down in 2020. The statue was then donated to St Mary’s Church and is there as of today. Washington Square was renamed Harriet Tubman Square and a statue of her was put up.
Who is John DiBiase?
John DiBiase was born in Italy and married there in 1885. Shortly after his marriage he immigrated to the United States and lived in New Jersey. Italian Americans faced a lot of backlash and hate when they first immigrated to the United States so many of them put up Columbus statues to show that they too helped found America. This was no different with John DiBiase. He did a lot for the Italian American community in Newark. First, He founded the sons of Italy. The Sons of Italy was a group of Italian Americans who helped each other and wanted to maintain their Italian culture in the United States. DiBiase also founded and built Saint Mary’s Church. This was a big thing for Italian Americans as people did not like that Italians were catholic so this gave them a place to worship their beliefs. Finally the last major impact he had was putting up the statue of Columbus in Washington Square, now Harriet Tubman square, in Newark. DiBiase was loved by all Italian Americans as he helped create Italian American communities and retain their culture.
About the Removal of the Statue
Both groups were mad. The Sons of Italy did not want the statue removed as it showed their heritage and paid respect to John DiBiase. To appease them the statue was moved to St Mary’s Church which John DiBiase founded. The protesters were also mad with the way the statue came down. The city came in over night and removed it. The protesters wanted it to be a more public showing of the removal to get the point across. They also wanted it more public so they could spread their message as there are a lot of Columbus Statues in the United States with one of the most famous ones across the Hudson in New York City.
“COLUMBUS TRIBUTE TO BE PAID TODAY: FESTIVITIES HERE WILL INCLUDE RALLY OF THOUSANDS AT STATUE AT THE CIRCLE. KNIGHTS TO HOLD A FETE CITY’S OBSERVANCE WILL BE LED BY ITALIAN GROUPS — RADIO TALKS TO BE GIVEN.” New York Times (1923-), Oct 12, 1933, pp. 27. ProQuest, http://unh-proxy01.newhaven.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/columbus-tribute-be-paid-today/docview/100859930/se-2.
“Camden Removes Christopher Columbus Statue from Farnham Park, Angering Some Protesters Ahead of Planned March.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 12 June 2020, www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/camden-removes-christopher-columbus-statue-from-farnham-park/.
Avilucea, Isaac. “Trenton Says Bye-Bye to Columbus Statue, as Protesters Square off about Explorer’s Brutal Past.” Trentonian, Trentonian, 19 Aug. 2021, www.trentonian.com/2020/07/08/trenton-says-bye-bye-to-columbus-statue-as-protesters-square-off-about-explorers-brutal-past/.
Strunsky, Steve. “Columbus Statue Removed from N.J. Park in 2020 to Be Loaned to Church.” Nj, 10 Apr. 2024, www.nj.com/essex/2024/04/columbus-statue-taken-down-from-nj-park-in-2020-to-go-on-loan-to-church.html#:~:text=The%20statue%20was%20taken%20down,and%20exploitation%20of%20indigenous%20people.
Zhang, Myles. “John DiBiase: Newark’s Italian-American Champion.” Guy Sterling, 7 July 2023, guysterling.wordpress.com/2019/09/06/columbus-statue/.
“About.” Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, 18 Jan. 2024, www.osdia.org/about/.
Furnas, Dawn. “Newark Renames Washington Park, Unveils Arts District.” Njbiz, 2022. ProQuest,http://unh-proxy01.newhaven.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/newark-renames-washington-park-unveils-arts/docview/2680926546/se-2.
This monument was constructed to memorialize George Washington, the 1st U.S. President, Founding Father, co-creator of the Declaration of Independence, politician, and military leader among other things. He is viewed as one of the most prominent figures today in the United States because he is the one who set a majority of the rules that are still followed today and set the way of life that is still followed to this day.
Background Information
Image of the statue published by Skrabut
The statue was put up on the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence which was built by Pompeo Coppini and paid for by Henry Waldo Coe. People were mostly indifferent to the statue as there were not many reactions to its construction. The reactions that were voiced, were positive. Below is an image from the Malvern Times on July 1st, 1926.
“This heroic statue of the commander-in-chief of the first armies of the United States was made for the city of Portland, Oregon.”
What’s The Message?
There are a couple of messages that this statue sends. It is bronze since that is the most popular material to make a statue out of, but what is important is his stance. He is standing confident and his posture is well-suited for a man of power. He has a cane not because he needs the support, but most likely to show his power as a cane can be a status symbol for people of powerful positions, such as a king. In his other hand, he is holding a coat and hat as if he is retiring and looking one last time at the fruits of his labor as he steps down. He seems to be reminiscing and his face is stern but also at peace. He has his back straight and seems to be pondering everything that led him to stand where he is now. He is elevated like his status and sits high above the ground. The marble he stands on seems bland intentionally to not take away from George Washington himself. It is thick and he stands confidently on the slab as if nothing could bring him down. That was not true as protestors later took him down.
Pompeo Coppini
Pompeo Coppini 1929
The sculptor of this statue, Pompeo Coppini, was an Italian sculptor who immigrated to the United States in March 1986, later becoming a citizen in 1902. While growing up in Florence, Italy, he got his start making ceramic horses in the shape of whistles at the age of ten! As he got older, he would make knockoffs of famous artworks and by the age of sixteen he would then study at Accademia dell’Arte del Disegno which translates to “Academy of the Arts of Drawing.” Once he arrived to the United States, he started started making wax figures for a wax museum in New York. He later married one of his models, Elizabeth di Barbieri. Coppini ended up making three distinct George Washington statues in his career. The first was in Mexico that was built in 1912 and was later toppled over in 1914 by an invasion led by Veracruz, the second is the Portland statue that was toppled over by BLM protestors, and the third one was in Austin, Texas. The first one was replaced by another one in 1916, the second one is being maintained in a museum but does not have a date when it will be put back, and the third one is still standing. Below is a video of the Portland, Oregon statue being taken down.
George Washington Statue Taken Down
Henry Waldo Coe
Henry Waldo Coe was a politician and physician that was prominent in political and financial affairs. He personally knew Theodore Roosevelt and was friends with him until he passed; he would often have dinners with him at the White House. Henry was also president, vice-president, and director of various national banks in the northwest area. He commissioned the George Washington statue that is in Portland, alongside 3 other statues which were of Joan of Arc, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. All of the statues he commissioned were taken down except for the one of Joan of Arc.
George Washington – The Slave Owner
George Washington was a slave owner in his time and this is the main reason that the statue of him was taken down in Portland, Oregon. During his lifetime he owned approximately 577 slaves. Throughout his lifetime he did transition from the ideology of slave ownership being acceptable to seeing it as immoral. This epiphany came to him after changing the crops he grew on his plantations from tobacco to that of grains. Information on how he treated his slaves is conflicting. On the one hand, some say he was respectful towards his slaves and other sources say that he was inhumane towards them.
The Positive
Those that are positive state that he would allow slaves from other plantations to visit each other if they were family and that they would get days off on Sundays and any other religious holidays. For Washington, whipping was a last resort and the overseers that watched over the plantations would often need written consent from Washington in order to whip the slaves. Instead, he would opt for a reward system that promoted good work and intense labor. This would give the slaves the opportunity to earn better clothes, better blankets, and sometimes Washington would even pay the slaves. On his plantation, he would also have younger and older slaves which resulted in his operations working at a loss. After his wife’s death he would end up freeing all his slaves.
The Negative
Those who choose to speak negatively on Washington’s slave ownership say that he would give the bare necessities for his slaves like minimum amounts of food, barely usable clothing, no blankets to sleep on, and that the slave’s living quarters were not well maintained. Since he grew up in a time of slavery he already had this ideology of racial superiority. This gave him the idea that he as a white man was leagues ahead compared to black people. During his presidency he supposedly rotated out his slaves as to not give them freedom. He would do this by sending slaves back and forth from the Capital and Mt. Vernon to avoid an abolition act that freed slaves after 6 months of residency. So, he would rotate his slaves out before those 6 months as a loophole to the act and that method allowed him to keep him his slaves and deny them their freedom.
Where Is It Now?
The bronze George Washington statue in Portland, Oregon is currently in storage and being repaired after being toppled by protesters. This is also a reflection of what people think today of the man and the statue today. On top of toppling the statue, it is also defamed with graffiti that makes reference to him being a slave owner. Some of the grafitti on the statue says things like, “Genocidal Colonist”, “You’re on native land”, “BLM”, “Big Floyd”, and “1619.” The year 1619 is a reference to the first year that slave ships arrived to the United States with the first shipment of slaves. The statue is currently part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection and cannot be reinstalled at its original location near the German American Society. It is currently unknown when it will be put up again.
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