Boston officials have decided to remove the sculpture Emancipation Monument which has stood in Park Square since 1879. It depicts a formerly enslaved man kneeling before Abraham Lincoln.Boston officials have decided to remove the sculpture Emancipation Monument which has stood in Park Square since 1879. It depicts a formerly enslaved man kneeling before Abraham Lincoln.
"This is a frozen picture. This man is kneeling, he will never stand up," Bullock said."This image is problematic because it feeds into a narrative that Black people need to be led and freed. A narrative that seems very specific to us for some reason. Why is our trauma so glorified?" A handful of people who spoke at the meeting were in favor of keeping the sculpture where it is and adding context. But, commission member Robert Freeman said he had changed his mind after listening to two mothers in another recent virtual meeting. They spoke of bringing their sons to see the sculpture. The boys immediately noticed the shirtless Black man with broken shackles on his wrists and ankles.
Brandeis University Emeritus Professor Ibrahim Sundiata believes the sculpture belongs in a museum. He's a scholar who's written extensively on West African and African-American history. He grew up in Washington, D.C., and says he used to walk past the statue nearly every day. As a kid, Sundiata said he thought it was creepy.
Ridiculous. The freed slaves chose this symbolism bc they were grateful to Lincoln. Though they were down & shackled, they could now begin to RISE. This is just like liberal white people to tell freed blacks how they should & shouldn't feel about emancipation. SHAME ON BOSTON!
Then what is Welfare ? The Conservatives would rather he rid up and become his own independent person
Replace it with the statue of Maury holding a DNA test report and a black man dancing crazy and 'you are not the father' motto engraved at the foundation.
So erasing a memorial to the man who died so you could live free, erasing the memory of all those patriots who died to give you the life and liberty long denied you by the treasonous south is something being viewed as positive by the poc community? :/
Seems to me a better representation of Lincoln’s work would be standing tall & shaking hands as equals not a permanent expression of subjugation. Lincoln was not a diety to be bowed to. We do not bow to presidents, they are elected representatives, not royalty, not pharaohs.
155 years later, the Confederates have taken over Boston.
Y do ppl kneel at sports then
I know what I see, but don't know what others see. Question of taking down because it offends or emotionally upsets some people. I also get offended and emotionally upset when I see statue or symbol of man being crusified on a cross. Should we force them be removed?
Take it down. Then build a statue of Japanese, former slaves, and the indigenous holding America on its back....
Plus hand above head, which frankly is pretty hardcore.
That's a very good question! 2020
Funny.....white liberals think they need to lead blacks to success. White liberals think black Americans can't succeed on their own. Also, know shit statues are frozen in time. Does not change what it represents, which is black Americans being freed from slavery.
That is ridiculous! This statue captures a beautiful moment in time when Lincoln is gesturiing to an emancipated slave to rise up!! Lincoln gave his life to free the slaves, I think he deserves a statue commemorating that moment!!!
Cool, now do the one in DC
We better be taking down Martin Luther KING moments street names everything
I walk by this statue every day and had always found it off-putting, it makes Lincoln look like god or something.
I am just waiting for Philly to remove the Rocky Balboa statue because he beat Apollo Creed in Rocky II.
Shall we just burn everything down, and let the strong clean and organize the mess?
IT’S A STATUE! OF COURSE IT’S FROZEN! ARE YOU COMPLETE IDIOTS OR ONLY SOMEWHAT?!?!
Democrats opposed Lincoln for wanting to free the slaves
So, what, they’d rather the slaves never be freed? They where freed, and it was white men who fought and died for their freedom.
Slavery should have been abolished at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Yet another 78 years of white silence by the U.S. government occurred... 😠
I'm conflicted on this one...although I'm inclined to agree with the perception of the black community. My race isn't depicted as begging for freedom. Tear it down!
But the statute captures what was not what is.
Americans need to step back and think this is not answer. Do we remove Indians? Do we remove the President’s oof any kind? They have bad past? Offensive
Looks like it was influenced by this popular image from abolition circles. It’s time to update.
Unshackled, yet still subservient, kneeling at Lincoln's feet, in his proverbial 'place' that America quickly reminds a Black person of when they dare to assert themselves. The statue reflects Lincoln's POV: there should be no social or political equality.
Это классификация рас и родов. Черные, арабские, мусульманские, бедные, больные, глупые ... занимают последнее место. Классификация осуществляется всеми: черный с черным, белый с белым ... и т. Д. Наконец, все думают, что они превосходят: После меня потоп.
It is the classification of races and genera. Black, Arab, Muslim, poor, sick, stupid ... are ranked last. The classification is exercised by everyone: black with black, white with white ... etc. Lastly, everyone thinks they are superior: After me the deluge.
GoodWinForDC 🙌👏👏 Now just pulling for DC! 'Members of the Boston Art Commission voted unanimously Tuesday evening to remove Boston's copy of Thomas Ball's sculpture Emancipation Memorial from Park Square,' after hearing nearly 2 hrs of public comment advocating for removal.
Who is right? Perception is art. Art is perception.
It's symbolic idiots
Come on folks, this should be obvious. The man is not Lincoln's dog, he is a man. I understand who funded this, but I imagine they were shell-shocked and suffering PTSD. I was born on the same day as Abe, I've always had an affinity. I am certain he would agree, take it down.
Ask the freed the slaves who paid for the original statue that this is replicated from.
They were slaves. They did need to be freed you idiots
Perhaps the Left think history can be 'changed' for the better. Erasing the 'freeing' of slavery from the American history is effectively denying the existence of slavery - quite an opposite effect, no, racist ?
It needs to go and conveys a master to pet dynamic to it.
In my heart, I believe that Abraham Lincoln would have never allowed himself to be in the pose. Remove it.
Public art is shit, remove all of it.
I thought kneeling was a good thing 😂🤣😂🍿🍿🍿
'why is our trauma so glorified?' I've asked myself this question a lot after hearing rap music. Glorifying drug dealing, murder, gang membership, domestic violence, addressing one another as n*gger, pimping women, and the obsession of billionaires like Buffet and Trump.
When you don't teach history in schools, when you eliminate debate and critical thinking and when 90% of the American media is owned by 4 conglomerates (that are now calling for censorship and editing of history) this is the sort of ignorance you get. DefundNPR
This is insanity!
funded by freed black slaves...nice! erase their history
That is demeaning. Switch the sides and see how you feel about it. Only black people should decide about statues like this.
The statue is complicated, it was commissioned by freed slaves but an all white committee made the decision on the final design. Even back then figures like Frederick Douglas had issue with the slave being on his knees and it's implications.
They still do ironically
I’ve actually never understood this statue. He freed them to be equals. They should be standing side by side as equals.
Very problematic...
It’s quite hypercorrection.
Hew NPR, talk about science. Talk about this: New Zealand did what the scientists told them to do, not the rich corporate capitalists...and hardly anyone died and the virus was swept out...
I’ll buy it right now. $100
This piece was funded by freed slaves. Now todays society is telling them what to think. Art is only to be judged by those who want to destroy it? Stop the nonsense.
Im proud of that statue. Can I put it in my house since they don't seem to appreciate it anymore?
Should the statue be removed?
BLM is a terrorist organization!!!
They want to erase the emancipation?
The family of the man rising up from his shackles are very proud of this statue and what it represents.
I’ll have it shipped to my house where it will be appreciated.
A freed woman donated her first five dollar earnings to build a statue commemorating Lincoln emancipating the slaves. This is that statue.
Lol you do realize that freed slaves bought and paid for the statue right? Pretty disrespectful
BS
He's not kneeling, he's standing up. Get it right
Democrats still mad we took away their slave now try to remove all statues that remind them of it.
“Boston Officials” … You mean politically correct smug liberal assholes
Abraham Lincoln was the worst, racist man to ever walk the earth. AND he was a Republican. Tear down everything related to (dis)honest Abe!
So art should be only interpreted by those who want to destroy it. Got it.
Someone has declared war on America’s history and culture and our leaders comply with it.
Didn't the Nazis do stuff like this?
You must be so happy!
kerremptycross Gratitude is so misunderstood. I guess taking the knee is not for everyone huh.
Lincoln told him to get up and to 'Kneel only to God'. Good advice for all of us in these times. DefeatTheMob
If he was kneeling, he'd have his forearm across his thigh, & would probably have his head bowed. From those in the know, he's in the process of rising.....
We just gonna ignore the fact that it was a statue paid for by former slaves who were rejoicing in their freedom?
For Pete’s sake, people, take some time to learn about this statue and the original.
Also who says there going to destroy it? Just put it in a museum, We have just way too many statues for unnecessary things in this nation, I understand remembering history but at this point it’s glorification...
It’s too bad we fund you and you can’t be bothered to give the historical context. DefundNPR
Does know one bother to learn history anymore? Lincoln is posed holding a scroll representing the Emancipation Proclamation, while a slave, haven broken his chains, is RISING from his knees. It is the act of emancipation. It was commissioned & paid for by former slaves.
Is it true when you become a Democrat you have to forfeit your balls?
so .... freeing slaves is racist? who knew! liberallogic
American Taliban! IDIOTS
The home if Patrick Henry? Oh we ARE doing his words now for sure!
NPR & the other entities supporting this behavior will one day be removed from relevancy
To me it looks like a man breaking his chains and arising. He is not on his knees. But I suppose today's audience would feel uncomfortable looking at it, so I suppose it is better off in a museum, where people can choose to view it.
“Kneeling before Abraham Lincoln.” What garbage journalism is this, , and what am I paying for you to exist
Another unbiased article from NPR.
It was a questionable statue to start with. Put it in a museum.
Look at all the damn white people mad over here. Good lord, quit trying to make white supremacy happen!
Here is a well put together essay on the creation of this monument.
Cool. When are the book burnings scheduled?
At first glance, the statue definitely gives a different idea from what is supposed to be depicted. But this is the story behind it.
It depicts a formerly enslaved man RISING from his broken chains. It was paid for by? Funded by the wages of freed slaves. Make your case to take it down, don't lie or embellish to do so, you pathetic hacks.
Since 1879? then it’s part of the history of this country
What disrespect to the history of the statue and the slaves who solely paid for it in recognition of the freedom that Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation gave them. They wanted the statue!
Cowards
BoycottBoston
RennaW No, it depicts Lincoln freeing the kneeling man, who is rising up. He isn’t “kneeling at his feet.” This is a dumb lie.
The PC movement we have allowed has officially crossed the tipping point to utter stupidity. If you support this YOU’RE the problem.
Disgusting marxists.
Erase history that's so brave
Trying to hide the evidence it was a Republican that freed them
WHY do we fund an anti American media outlet like npr ? Like pbs Please tell me senatemajldr GOPLeader GOP KAG2020
Tell us more about that black white supremisist who drove her car through peaceful protesters that drew a gun on her.
Fahrenheit 451
Ignorance wins yet again. Sad.
Good job Nazi Propaganda Radio. You've played yourselves.
Abhorent statue.
Should leave this historic statue there and put a brand new statue in the same area of a statue they like. Put the history behind the statues, not how it’s twisted.
Evil
My man should be standing, he kneels to no one.
the 1930s wants to know when is the book burning starting?
Put up a replacement statue of Diddy and Lincoln together
Lincoln saw everyone as equal. Fake news/statue, take it down.
I am white, so maybe I should shut my mouth, but wouldn’t this specific statue be looked at more like art and celebrating the awfulness of slavery being abolished?
About damn time ...
Now this is going a bit far!
He's rising, since he's been freed, with his head up looking to the future. This has been explained, you're aware, but are being deceitful because you're a dishonest rag.
Is this The Onion?
marty_walsh another pandering for votes roll over for the mob gutless move. We would still be British if you & wunderkind MassGovernor were around pre revolution. Maybe it’s time to revolt against you?! Recall! TheKuhnerReport G_CURLEY HowieCarrShow
Put in a museum see how many people will pay to see it, I say NONE. But they will complain that its not there. Times are a changing and its about dam time they do.
Better do it quick before you-know-who catches wind of it and squashes their whole plan!!
👍
Folks should read up on this statute. The man's shackles are broken and he is rising up.
Anyone else amazed learning about all these clearly F'd up statues around the country. Who saw that and thought yeah that represent freedom and equality?
Yea, that's a nice gesture and all, But could we focus on holding the police accountable for killing Blacks, and reform the system that condones it?! Please?!
Peehaps maybe we focus attentions on more important matters, doing things like this before an election will only divide the left even more. Take the confederate generals down. FCK NAZIS.
But hillary and plannedparenthood qanon pbs nprpolitics abcnews nytimes nbc YouMayHaveALowIQ ?
wait ...wat?
I've never heard anyone seriously claim the former slave is 'kneeling before Lincoln.' Is it not clear that the man is in the act of getting up after being freed? I get that it's awkward, but let's be honest.
This is ridiculous.
ClwtrBkAtty He was being freed...he was rising up, not kneeling. That sculpture was paid for by freed slaves! Just stupid to destroy it.
Thank you martywalsh. I would love to see another statue replace this with Honest Abe and a man and woman of color standing equal. That would be fantastic for my home town!
If we are being honest about Lincoln. He was a segregationist and with that context in mind it is a severely fucked up statue
That statue was always pretty ridiculous. Like Lincoln himself raised up a Black man. 'Oh thank you, THANK you massa, for letting me stand back up after beating me down for 300 years.'
I never knew how many of these weird statues existed. What “public officials” thought these looked good? This is 2020, how are all these demeaning statues still up?
Progressives are idiots
Statues. What a waste of space. Billions of people are worthy of statues. Let's not play favorites...
Now no more nightmares about this statue? All good?
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