Slave Image Brings Citizens out – Part 2 w/ Speech Excerpts

By: David Scott

The response, to the Glick Foundation’s Cultural Trail intentions of erecting an image of an African Slave, partially, duplicated from the image on the west side of the Monument on the Circle, named E Pluribus Unum, created by New York African-American artist, Fred Wilson, has been mixed and murky. As controversial as this issue is, given the state of Indiana’s racial past, community awareness has been slow in developing. Protesters of this public display harbor notions of why the reaction from the community has been delayed. Donna Stokes-Lucas, a community organizer of Community Against Slave Image, C.A.S.I. contends,” There were promises made, by The Central Indiana Community Foundation, CICF, with regard to the Cultural Trail, that community discussions and dialogue would be scheduled. They weren’t delivered, early enough in the process. Even national art critics, who view this image as the most important art piece in the country, concur that C.I.C.F. mishandled the marketing of this display, poorly.”

There are those who respond to this exclusion at the decision-making table, for the African American community, as the art community desiring to give an inanimate object a voice, while refusing to listen to the living descendants. This perpetuates wrong definitions and misrepresents historical culture. The inherent difficulties in dealing with history and people of color derive from the intentional exclusion of this necessary part of American History in school text books. This reality causes even the most educated people of color to be at a disadvantage, when it comes to slave history and its implications, imperceptibly accomplished by lack of exposure to the composite knowledge of their people.

On August 21, 2011, The Indy Star ran a column in the Conversation section, written by Carlton M. Waterhouse, University of Indiana, associate professor and dean’s fellow, where he states,” ..But why should I or anyone be ashamed of the millions of enslaved Africans who made the United States of America possible?” Since the image in question doesn’t acknowledge being a pillar of American society, these comment set off a fire storm in the African American community. Waterhouse has since sought to clarify his comments to oppose the image.

 Yet, this is not just a racial, pivoting point. The awful history, on which the state of Indiana rests, has an opportunity to be properly addressed and overcome. C.A.S.I. held a protest on July 30, 2011, on the south steps of the State House Building. Even though attendance was fair yet, the racial diversity of the speakers was evident. This image can become a mean-spirited precedent. Stokes-Lucas continues,” Should commissioned artists be allowed to display anything, anywhere, even on public property? The slave image would be more appropriate on the acreage of Indiana Museum of Art, where private discussion and appreciation is expected. “As this debate continues, more of the community voice is needed and can be included at: http://www.wix.com/1slave_enough/inindy.

 Indiana is allowed to pursue a renewed image of it to display to the world. May the archives of American History, not include, comedian, Jeff Foxworthy joking about Indiana, saying,” You know your state is Redneck if: It’s 1st image erected on public property, dedicated to the African American Community is a slave statue. Go Big Red!” Not funny at all!

 Excerpts of I.P.J.C. President David Scott Speech at C.A.S.I. Protest:

 
 

“…I concur with all of the previous comments from our distinguished speakers that this statue has the ability to demean, denigrate and diminish the honor and accomplishments of people of color as well as set race relations in Indianapolis back 100 years…If my recollection of history serves me correctly, the African slave wasn’t the lone participant in the godless melodrama of the founding of our nation, through slavery. Upon extensive, personal reflection, the only exception, where this, mind-poisoning, depiction should be allowed on public property, is if it is accompanied by images of the other significant players, who participated in slavery’s perpetuation.

 
 

So, we have to have an image of Massa Charlie, with a bible in one hand and a whipping stick in the other, used to brutalize slaves into submission…An image of Willie Lynch, with pamphlets in hand, peddling his system of abuse, to plantation owners, where they would take the biggest and strongest African male and rip him to pieces in front of the others, to humble the community. He even guaranteed that, if done right, the affects would last 300 years…There needs to be an image of George Washington, who said,” Free my slaves? Over my dead body!”…We need a statue of honest Abe Lincoln, who agreed the Africans were three-fifths human and never his social equal…

To Read Part One Click here: https://indypeaceandjustice.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/indy-slave-image-brings-citizens-out-part-1/