should statues be removed pros and cons

Do you agree? What that signals is a shift in power.. GREENE: Has your view on all of this changed since George Floyd was killed and we've seen such anger on the streets and such a growing movement at this moment? [email protected]. The Day of the Race has been condemned by social science as a result of its extreme racism, including the Nazism of World War II. ASU Associate Professor of English Kathleen Lamp, a historian who specializes in the rhetoric of public art, including memorials and monuments, said such controversy is as old as time. These statues are a reminder of our history, both good and bad. When activists deface statues, ultimately what theyre doing is forcing the citys hand so that they either have to put money into restoration, which doubles down on whatever message that monument is sending, or they can just remove it. I have a complex relationship with monuments, said Diaz, now a world-renowned poet. ], ProCon.org, "Historic Statue Removal Top 3 Pros & Cons,", ProCon.org, "Historic Statue Removal Top 3 Pros & Cons. [31], In Louisville, a statue of Confederate soldier John Breckinridge Castleman was removed. Some jurisdictions have placed explanatory plaques beside Confederate monuments to teach a more complete history of the Confederacy. The Onion looks at the pros and cons of removing historical statues. During this period, ethnicities we now consider to be white Irish and Italian, for example were not considered to be white. The removal in recent years of several monuments depicting Confederate leaders and other controversial historical figures by both politicians and unsanctioned activists have generated debate over whether their removal is justified. The statue was defaced, there was a lot of graffiti that dealt with defunding the police, and there are some incredibly powerful images that were taken during that time, some of which are going into the new time capsule. And dont forgetthe Confederacy lost. Plaques can describe the history of slavery and the Civil War, as well as the white supremacist legacy that led to the creation of such monuments. GREENE: Historian Manisha Sinha is the author of "The Slave's Cause: A History Of Abolition.". Defunding the humanities, cutting history classes and departments. Thats a lot of money for one city to pay for, and that money could be used for more important things. Other examples are the decisions to name towns in New York State, Illinois, and Indiana after the Roman consul,Marcus Tullius Cicero. UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: When do we want it? These monuments are controversial because they are seen by some as honoring the Confederacy and its pro-slavery and white supremacist policies and by others as historical markers of the nations history. But I think whats so interesting about the City Beautiful movement is that it controlled public spaces in a very specific way, and it was ultimately a movement about assimilation, and a movement that came out of a real concern about immigration. The main duty is not to hide the bitter parts. [43]. It is not acceptable to state that statues represent history if they do not represent the roles and responsibilities they serve. And while it is true that many of the Virginian Founding Fathers - Washington, Jefferson, Madison - all owned slaves, we put up their statues not to commemorate their slave holding but for different reasons. I understand the importance of remembering those who died fighting for both sides of the war. [14] [55], In June 2021, the US House of Representatives voted to remove all confederate statues and bust of Roger B. Taney (the US Supreme Court Chief Justice who wrote the Dred Scott decision) from the US Capitols Statuary Hall. 5. The 12th of October 2004 marks the beginning of a new era in Venezuela. We will know who Robert E. Lee was. If we disqualified all figures because we now reject their societys practices, we would commemorate few people indeed, and we would deprive ourselves of many sources of inspiration. Jasmine Aguilera, Confederate Statues Are Being Removed amid Protests over George Floyd's Death. Chvez was once an island with no borders and no land. The standard traditionally applied is as follows: When deciding whom to commemorate by statues, place names, monuments, holidays, currency, or coins we select individuals who performed. History is almost never the sole motivator for the construction of schools. Annette Gordon-Reed, a historian of U.S. slavery, legal scholar, and member of the Presidential Initiative on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery, spoke with the Gazette about the issue. We must fight for the values we admire in our politics and culture. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Theres one school of thought that says communities should be the ones to decide. The statues do not cause racism and could be used to fight racism if put into historical context. They can be offensive and hurtful to certain groups of people. The Virginia statues still stood amid the protests following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, though they were tagged with graffiti. To the best of our knowledge, no resistance is shown in 1895 in the Neapolitan pieza de mrmol; all hecha pedazos must be resisted. Statues elevate a person from a historical event rather than demystify it. I also think it gives credence to the kind of exclusionary work that they already perform. Its saying, We still have the upper hand. [23], Finley hit not only on the current psychological impact of the statues, but also on the intended historical impact. ProCon.org. There are statues of people all over the place, and they should be removed. GREENE: But is there an argument that removing these statues could help further the fight for racial equality in our country? Mount Vernon, Slavery, mountvernon.org (accessed July 7, 2020), 40. Explain your answers. GAZETTE:As a law professor, what is your view on people unilaterally deciding to pull down statues they find offensive after officials often enjoined by laws or judicial rulings barring such action decline to do so? Glenn Foster, founder of The Freedom Neighborhood, stated of the Emancipation Memorial, which depicts Lincoln over a kneeling freed slave, When I look at that statue, Im reminded my freedom and my liberation is only dictated by white peoples terms. Following the white nationalist rally in Virginia on August 12, 2017, it was back in the news. Q: Why is the removal of statues such a fraught topic? Photo courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto, (480) 965-9657 Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. The state's governor introduced legislation in April 2020 to allow cities to remove statues, paving the way for a US$10 million (7.2 million) plan to transform Richmond Virginia's famous . Kehinde Wiley, Instagram.com, June 4, 2020, 34. [35]. The campaigns demise was both sad and pathetic. 3. The concept of La Raza -as* -as* is based on the idea that all latinos are united in EEUU and that they are committed to aquella tradition. Thus, George Washington is memorialized in statues and place names, although he held slaves. They are a part of our cultural heritage. Several years have passed since the debate over the removal of Confederate statues began. It is no surprise that he is not fondly remembered by his descendants, who consider themselves natives. The video of the officer with his knee on George Floyds neck was so extreme. Even after the statues were erected, there was never a common ground between them. Despite Nicole Douglas' team-leading 14th goal of the season, the Sun Devil soccer team was unable to claim its first Pac-12 victory of the season after falling to the Oregon State Beavers, 2-1 on Thursday night. Take away these men who seem to be inferior to Roosevelt, but leave him. However, preservationism remains the dominant outlook of the sector. Since the election of President Donald Trump, there has been an increased push to remove Confederate statues and monuments. The statues misrepresent history, and glorify people who perpetuated slavery, attempted secession from United States, and lost the Civil War. A statue of Josphine de Beauharnais, who married Napoleon and became his first wife, was ripped down in Martinique. So these statues, I think, need to be contextualized historically. What does that say to black citizens of the state, or other citizens, or to younger generations? [4], Of about 5,193 public statues of people in the United States, only 394 are of women, and far fewer are of black Americans or other people of color. Colleen Walsh, Must We Allow Symbols of Racism on Public Land?, harvard.edu, June 19, 2020, 44. 17, 2020, 42. Consider appealing to the American Alliance of Museums for the use of the statues removed from public display. The announcement caused a stir because it made it clear that nothing else has been done to honor him until now: no other president has done so. Go toProCon.orgto learn more. I think the difference that George Floyd's murder has made and that's been a bit heartening for me is that ordinary American citizens have finally realized what these statues symbolize and how they have been a standing affront for African Americans and their quest for equal citizenship in this country because Black Americans have always been against it. Symbolic annihilation can result in society valuing groups of people less and in internalized negativity among those groups. Caleb Parke, From George Washington to Ulysses S. Grant: Statues, Monuments Vandalized Extend beyond Confederates amid Black Lives Matter Protests, foxnews.com, June 22, 2020, 13. The intention was to intimidate Black while reinforcing white power structures in America. Advocates of removing statutes of controversial figures suggest that these monuments represent individuals whose actions and legacies should not be celebrated or memorialised. Confederate monuments are more likely to be removed in cities with large African-American and Democratic populations, as well as chapters of the NAACP, and where state legislatures have the authority to approve their removal. Greta Anderson, When Free Speech and Racist Speech Collide, insidehighered.com, June 23, 2020, 36. The US National Trust for Historic Preservation offers a point of contrast, having stated: 'We should always remember the past, but do not necessarily need to revere it'. It has also been suggested that statues shouldn't be removed but new plaques could be added which explain why the person is controversial, for example reflecting both the good and bad things. I dont think theres any value there. For many years people have been arguing whether certain controversial monuments, such as statues, should be destroyed or removed. Some were unlawfully torn. In fact, even Robert E. Lee opposed Confederate statues. Statues and monuments of historical figures are commonplace in almost every city in the world. Who Was He?, cnn.com, June 11, 2020, 7. Effective Ways to Save on your Mobile Data, The Law Enforcement Exception To The Use Of Deadly Force, Swearing At Police Officers Is Not Appropriate In Massachusetts, Everything You Need To Know About Car Insurance Companies And Police Reports, The Police In Nigeria Have The Authority To Arrest Without A Warrant Under Certain Circumstances. When a king dies, his or her statue is also taken down, as are those of their ancestors. A copy of the Statue of Liberty was damaged in Valencia, so it was removed from the citys streets. The removal of Confederate monuments is usually around $1.8 million in total, but this varies by location. Evan Andrews, How Many U.S. Presidents Owned Enslaved People?, history.com, Sep. 3, 2019, 45. Explore the Southern Poverty Law Centers Whose Heritage: Public Symbols of the Confederacy resource, which promotes the removal of confederate statues. When we get into Confederate monuments specifically, again, they were purposely put up at times when Blacks were beginning to gain more rights as citizens, and very often, they were erected in public, civic spaces, often on courthouse lawns, specifically to let Black people know that even though, legally, they had more rights, those rights wouldnt be upheld there. When were talking about the Lee statue, its a really good example of what can happen when there is disagreement in the community about what its values are. The reason for that was a movement called City Beautiful. Southern Poverty Law Center, Whose Heritage? 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Petition Pushes for Parton Statues, arkansasonline.com, June 23, 2020, 30. Memorials serve as a permanent reminder of our values, as well as a place to honor and display them in public. Juan De Anda, Why Representation Matters Now, mediapost.com, April 21, 2020, 28. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The argument is that these statues glorify individuals who have harmed marginalized groups, and that they should be removed from public spaces. [37], Lawrence A. Kuznar, PhD, Professor of Anthropology at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Fort Wayne, states, removing Confederate statues amounts to whitewashing our history, turning our heads away from the inconvenient truths of our past. The campaign to remove controversial monuments and memorials has attracted a lot of criticism - charges that we are "erasing" history or imposing our own values and perspectives on people . Research reveals the long-term impact following the destruction of the Greenwood District, Harvard experts talk about how to turn the moments energy into lasting change, Harvard faculty recommend the writers and subjects that promote context and understanding, Ash Center panel puts defining moment of Floyd killing into context of fight for social justice, Biomolecular archaeology reveals a fuller picture of the nomadic Xiongnu. The Avalon Project, A Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union., avalon.law.yale.edu (accessed July 8, 2020), 17. Ultimately, as far as who gets to decide, I think activism is what gets it done. A monument to Cecil Rhodes is located in South Africa, and another stands in Britain. Lawrence A. Kuznar, PhD, Professor of Anthropology at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Fort Wayne, stated that removing Confederate statues is a whitewashing of our history that destroys our ability to remember inconvenient truths from our past. These loans are available for those with a credit score of at least 500. Among the items included in a new time capsule that will take its place is a copy of Diazs Pulitzer Prize-winning Postcolonial Love Poem., When my old basketball coach Wendy Larry texted me to tell me the Virginia governor's office was trying to reach me, I had no idea what they might want. The removal of Confederate statues is a painful reminder of the countrys racist past and present. Note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity. I think in general in this country, statues have held up a very white, male virtue. Opponents said, well, if you're going to take down Jefferson Davis, the next day you're going to take down George Washington. 4. The Robert E. Lee monument, erected several decades after the Civil War to commemorate the Confederate general, was recently removed following more than a year of protests for racial justice. Perhaps that is precisely why the standard is flouted by those who want to politicize everything. Yes, other celebrated Americans were also deeply wrong about slavery, but they aspired to something greater. The statues can be kept without glorifying what they once stood for. [1] [2] [3] [4], The issue rose to prominence again in 2017 after an Aug. 12 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent and deadly. There are valid arguments on both sides, and there is no easy answer. Its also important to distinguish statues from records of history, because thats not what theyre about. but They Should Remain., washingtonpost.com, Aug. 18, 2017, 39. Does this moment, and these efforts feel different to you? Or they go up because of T.J.s views on separation of church and state and other values that we hold dear. This was before he became president or even commanded the Union Army. This is the first statue of a black person to be installed in Statuary Hall, and it was commissioned by the state. He was also an abolitionist, though a hypocritical and pragmatic one who understood the country would not give up slavery so easily. We should be able to discuss these historical figures and discuss what we admire about them and what we don't admire so much. A petition in Tennessee gained 22,736 signatures (and counting as of July 8, 2020) to replace all Confederate statues in the state, including the statue of Confederate Army General and KKK Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest that stands in the states capitol building, with statues of Dolly Parton. In response to a question posed by The Daily Mail, the Queen Mothers statue in Trafalgar Square should be chosen. Confederate statues were the focus of protests in Richmond, Virginia, last summer. Since this fundamentally conflicts with American values and ideas, they should be removed. Confederate monuments, in particular, hold religious, cultural, economic, and political values. They did, though, own slaves. [49], Author Sophia A. Nelson, JD, who notes she is the granddaughter of a slave, states that she does not fear 150-year-old statues of old dead white men. Nelson argues that her classmates at Washington & Lee University didnt hate [black students] because there were statues of Robert E. Lee or George Washington (our nations first President and a slave owner) on campus. Activists are campaigning for a statue of Cecil Rhodes to be removed from an Oxford college. [39] [40] [41], However, Washington led the Continental Army to victory over the British, held together the country as the first President over two terms, resisted calls to become King of the country, and, in his will, freed his slaves upon his wifes death. Becky Little, How the Cult of Robert E. Lee Was Born, history.com, Aug. 14, 2017, 18. Rebecca Klar, Arthur Ashe Statue on Richmond's Monument Avenue Tagged with White Lives Matter Graffiti, thehill.com, June 17, 2020, 50. OK, actually, that makes it easier. They can be seen as a form of art. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. It started in the 1890s with the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Beyond building monuments to honor black Americans, monuments could employ and elevate living black artists, such as Kehinde Wiley, whose 2019 Rumors of War statue depicts a black man on horseback in a pose reminiscent of statues of Robert E. Lee. Make sure to visit the Southern Poverty Law Centers Whose Heritage: Public Symbols of the Confederacy resource. Eight US presidents owned slaves while in office, with an additional four owning slaves while not in office. We disregard or discount those faults common to the individuals time and place. Washington owned over 300, Jefferson over 600, and Grant worked on his wifes family plantation and inherited one slave upon his father-in-laws death. The statues are also seen as ahistorical and ahistorical in depicting people who contributed to slavery, attempted to secede from the United States, and fought for independence from the United States. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. While the debate whetherConfederatestatues should be taken down has been gaining momentum for years, the issue gained widespread attention after the June 17, 2015, mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Though they may represent history, the history that they represent is done in . And that was simply not correct. SINHA: I think when you go down that slippery slope, maybe it might backfire. Between June 17, 2015 and July 6, 2020, 59 Confederate statues, nine interpretive markers, and plaques were removed from public land in 19 states across the country. Those are the real threats to history. And the vast majority of these statues were erected during the height of the Jim Crow movement, as historian Kevin M. Kruse has shown. What is that extreme? [27] [28] Statues celebrating the diversity of the country could help remedy symbolic annihilation of black Americans, women, and other groups. Where do we draw a line? Khushbu Shah, Atlanta's Confederate Monuments: How Do Context Markers Help Explain Racism?, theguardian.com, Aug. 3, 2019, 25. This is why they put them up in the first place; to affirm the centrality of white supremacy to Southern culture. [1], Because the statues were intended to promote white supremacy, Richard Rose, President of Atlantas NAACP, argues, You cant contextualize racism or compromise on racism. He states that the contextualization plaques added to Atlantas Confederate statues establish that racism is valid. [24], The statues still appeal to white supremacists, as demonstrated by the 2017 rally to defend the Lee and Jackson statues in Virginia and in Dylan Roofs 2015 pre-massacre tour of plantations and a Confederate museum.

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