Indy Slave Image Brings Citizen’s Out, Part 1

By: David Scott

It is the year 2011 and slavery is still an issue in our city. This time, though, it doesn’t involve the, actual, deprivation of American rights and human dignity towards African people, brought to this land of freedom against their will, in order to provide free-labor in building the infrastructure of this nation, that has since, celebrated global supremacy and boundless prosperity. No, this conflict, isn’t the brutal, physical abuse, senseless torture and inhumane annihilation inflicted upon countless victims, which were trapped in the godless American institution called slavery. This current issue involves a replica of the slave image attached to the Monument Circle, artistic, rendering that was chosen to be placed by the Glick Foundation’s Cultural Trail cascading through the Indianapolis downtown for biking and walking. Additionally, it was concluded by the organizers that a separate slave image, reposition to hold a flag, would be an excellent addition to the downtown landscape, erected on the south lawn of the City-County building, facing the Marion County Jail 1 facility. The decisions to develop this image was approved within the Art and Museum community and an, out of state, artist, Fred Wilson, NY, was commissioned to begin work on the piece, entitled, “E Pluribus Unum”. It was then, that word began to spread into the African-American community of the intention to erect this statue.

Donna Stokes-Lucas heard of this plan and began to ask questions and do her own research. Stokes-Lucas attended several meetings but, noticed those gatherings were not open to dialogue to challenge the completion and placement of the statue. She says,” The arts community entered into an agreement before they approached the real community leaders. This is disingenuous for them to decide to erect their image without having a clue to the backlash.” Stokes-Lucas found that other concerned citizens were perplexed by how such decisions get made. ” Private groups and owners dialogue just to place art. Often, they contribute to the discussion about race but, aren’t challenged in those discussions by the right diversity,” she says. 

After another under-attended and under-represented meeting at Cripus Attucks Medical Magnet School in April 2010, Stokes-Lucas began to pursue tools to empower others to have a say in this proposed action. Citizens Against Slave Image (CASI) was born to organize the opposition and give voice to the concerns of such an insensitive and, potentially, reckless move, in response to the 1st public art piece dedicated to the black commuity. There was a website built, a petition developed and an email invitation offered to gather questions and concerns. This would give all people in the city an opportunity to speak, as individuals, and record their response. go see: http://www.wix.com/1slave_enough/inindy.

There was a meeting called on October 19, 2010, at the Madame C.J.Walker building to bring all interested parties together, in order to find a civil way forward. The meeting was disruptive and divisive. From foundation representatives, city and government officials, ministers and celebrities, media and neighbors, this confrontation made things clear, no easy solution would be found. Even, when Wilson attempted to express his intention and explain his art form, he was silenced by an unruly crowd. Negotiations for who would speak for the community were tedious. And there was very little patience and tolerance for the Glick representatives. An outside mediator was present and was incapacitated by the restlessness in the hall. It became apparent that race relations in this city are in need of difficult undertaking and painstaking work. 

All the while, Stokes-Lucas has continued to build a coalition of objectors. In her dialogue with the organizers, they were convinced that opposition to the project was minimal, because they only had received a few direct responses. Yet, she was ready to demonstrate the real opposition. She continues,” Images of this type, a black man sitting and doing nothing, not fully clothed, helps some people to deny rights to those represented by such portrayals. And this particular image already has a history, which remains with us… This is no different than the Confederate flag being flown over government buildings in the south.” This opinion mirrors what was printed by The Indianapolis Recorder, September 3, 2010, ‘Image Art Imitating Art on the Cultural Trail’, from retired Educator, Leroy Robinson wrote to the Editor stating,” (Slave Image), was a modern day Lawn Jockey. This depiction caused the issue to go viral… (Stay tuned for Part 2 – to read about the protest on the steps of the State House building)