In several cities, these tributes have been vandalized or torn down by protestors or removed by public officials. Several years have passed since the debate over the removal of Confederate statues began. But thats incredibly problematic. The monument divided the African American community, exposing various political philosophies on how to deal with white supremacy. Explain your answer with examples and reasoning. Claudette Colvin was a member of the Womens Missionary Union before Rosa Parks was born. We do not erect monuments to people who performed extraordinary feats that were unquestionably evil, even if their characters included some virtuous traits. I cannot see myself pulling down a statue in that way. Protesters next to a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Va. Pros And Cons Of Removing Confederate Statues. Opponents said, well, if you're going to take down Jefferson Davis, the next day you're going to take down George Washington. It is unfortunate that they are considered public art works rather than memorializing them. The plaques can not only detail the history of slavery and the Civil War, but also the white segregationist history that promoted the building of such statues to promote the revisionist Lost Cause history. ASU News sat down with Lamp, whose current scholarship focuses on the classical influence on U.S. public art, memorials and monuments, and how those sites guide understandings of citizenship and civic participation, to learn more about the issues at play in this ongoing dialogue. The rally protested the proposed removal of statues of Confederate Army GeneralsRobert E. LeeandStonewall Jackson. In particular, a lot of our civic buildings our courthouses, our state capitals, even our public squares and parks are in the neoclassical style. In the event that these statues are removed, the country would lose a valuable educational tool about the effects of the Civil War. At the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth, a significant portion of anti-imperialist and Bolivarian thinking was based on those ideas. Defunding the humanities, cutting history classes and departments. So what should be the standard for taking down a statue? I grew up seeing hundreds of small stone and bronze markers along our desert roads telling us about the great white Americans who passed through or discovered the great West or our mighty Colorado River, said Diaz, whowas born and raised in the Fort Mojave Indian Village in Needles, California. They honored racial prejudice. 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 extraordinary feats that, on balance, made the world a better place. Workers in Richmond, Va., removed a statue of. 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. In later years, Lee alsodistinguished himself as an educator: As president of the institution that is nowWashington and Lee University, he was largely responsible for fashioning the modern college honor code. Thus, George Washington is memorialized in statues and place names, although he held slaves. While most Americans watch helplessly, ourstateside Taliban vandalizes and removeslong-standing public monuments. Ted Mann, Lincoln Statue With Kneeling Black Man Becomes Target of Protests, wsj.com, June 25, 2020, 14. Donald Trump, Twitter.com, June 30, 2020, 35. As a result, the monumentos, as well as the ellos located in the various areas of the city, are erigen within the context of the community. Kelly Grovier, Black Lives Matter Protests: Why Are Statues So Powerful?, bbc.com, June 12, 2020, 26. Copyright 2020 NPR. Like, what do you see is at stake here if the number of statues being removed really broadens? 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 SPLC reported at least 160 monuments were removed in 2020 after George Floyds death, more than the prior four years combined At last count, about 704 Confederate monuments remained on public land. Amanda Holpuch, Ed Pilkington, and Oliver Laughland, Charleston Shooting: Confederate Flag at Heart of Growing Political Storm, theguardian.com, June 20, 2015, 4. There is no easy answer to this question, as there are pros and cons to both sides. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. As Rod Dreherargues in The American Conservative,Americans should not make the same mistakes as France. [26]. 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. Starting with the Reconstruction, we see them being used as a way to control public spaces and maintain white supremacy alongside other things like lynching, controlling school curriculums, etc. 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. Photograph: Schalk van Zuydam/AP A similar story can be told in the southern states of the US. And I also grew up hearing stories from my family or reading in archives the terrible things those men did to my people.. Disputation in the political sphere is difficult to come by. 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 high-profile decision to tear down a famous bronze figure of Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Va., was halted by a court challenge, which was extended indefinitely on Thursday. His disreputable actions reflected attitudes and practices common to his society. And that is, in fact, a very imperialist vision. Were trying to let the government know were not going to wait any longer for our freedom to happen. [19] Celebrations of Columbus have long been criticized due to his colonization and genocide of Indigenous people, as well as the false narrative that he discovered America when he never set foot on North America. 3. Memorials serve as a permanent reminder of our values, as well as a place to honor and display them in public. First, virtually everyone acts in ways consistent with contemporaneous social normsnorms of which later generations may disapprove. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. 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. The debate over removing Confederate statues continues to rage. Mississippis secession declaration states, Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery the greatest material interest of the world. Ultimately, as far as who gets to decide, I think activism is what gets it done. [32]. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. There are statues of people all over the place, and they should be removed. May 16, 2017 0 The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his mount, Traveler, face the setting sun on Monument Ave. in Richmond,. How do we know if statues are supposed to tell the story of our ancestors? I was really dismayed to see the statue of Grant, especially, come down because Grant was never comfortable with owning that one slave that was given to him by his father-in-law. GAZETTE: Many believe that taking the statues down is an attempt to cover up or erase history. Last modified on July 14, 2022. The police killing of George Floyd sparked widespread protests and reignited efforts across the U.S. to remove Confederate and other statues viewed as symbols of slavery and racism. It was a great energy to be a part of removing that statue and seeding something new in its place; a little piece of respect and love for the land, which is what I consider the poem to be.. To the best of our knowledge, no resistance is shown in 1895 in the Neapolitan pieza de mrmol; all hecha pedazos must be resisted. For example, a statue of black abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass was damaged over the July 4, 2020 weekend in Rochester, New York. 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. [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. The architect Daniel Burnham was a leader in the movement; he went on to do the McMillan Plan for the National Mall in D.C. 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. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. The issue rose to prominence again in 2017 after an Aug. 12 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent and deadly. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. 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. Removing statues is a slippery slope that could lead to the brash removal of monuments to any slightly problematic person. As for museums, people I know who work in museums tear their hair out about this suggestion, that somehow, were going to ship all these Confederate monuments off to the lucky museum that has to find a place to put them. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. The victors, the thousands of soldiers black and white in the armed forces of the United States, died to protect this country. SINHA: Exactly. One claim for not removing certain statues of people who have committed egregious acts is that we should not treat people of another time as if they were second-rate citizens. Confederate monuments, in particular, hold religious, cultural, economic, and political values. The bus will arrive in Che Guevaras honor. Alexander Stephens, vice president of the Confederacy, was completely clear about its goal: The cornerstone [of the Confederate States of America] rests upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition.. The toppling of Edward Colston's statue in Bristol has led to a heated debate about memorialisation and what those statues say about their respective societies. A: My first book (A City of Marble) was about the Roman emperor Augustus and how he used the built environment to shape civic identity at a time of great change for Rome. These are various statues across the US which honor Confederate leaders or "heroes". A: What we choose to memorialize speaks to our values as a society, and often, certain populations are excluded entirely from that. It wasnt until a statue, or, more specifically, the absence of one, that he discovered himself in the crosshairs. Robert Draper, Toppling Statues Is a First Step toward Ending Confederate Myths, nationalgeographic.com, July 2, 2020, 24. They did, though, own slaves. They didnt like having black classmates because they had racist hearts. It would be odd for me to condone other people doing something I would not do. Erecting statues to the lost heroes of the Lost Cause was part of the campaign to revise history. And there was a real concern about assimilating these immigrants into you can call it Americanization, but what it really was was an assimilation into white, Protestant culture. What is that extreme? Do you agree? I also think it gives credence to the kind of exclusionary work that they already perform. Monticello, Jefferson's Attitudes toward Slavery, monticello.org (accessed July 7, 2020), 41. Political iconoclasm has a dark and violent historyone we should be eager not to repeat. Khushbu Shah, Atlanta's Confederate Monuments: How Do Context Markers Help Explain Racism?, theguardian.com, Aug. 3, 2019, 25. [23] For example, the Confederate statues in the Capitol building should embody our highest ideals as Americans, expressing who we are and who we aspire to be as a nation. [56], When 11 Southern states seceded from the Union in 1861, they were very clear that the reason was the impending abolition of slavery. MANISHA SINHA: It always astonished me as a Civil War historian to see statues commemorating Confederate generals and politicians who had literally committed treason against this country in order to uphold human bondage. Here's What to Know, time.com, June 24, 2020, 2. While he hoped the next generation would abolish slavery, he wrote in 1820 that maintaining the institution of slavery was like holding a wolf by the ear, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. [40], Grant came from an abolitionist family, freed the one slave he owned in 1859, supported black enlisted Army men, led the Union Army in the Civil War to abolish slavery, and was endorsed by Frederick Douglass for president. That if monuments embody community values, then it should be a community decision. Does this moment, and these efforts feel different to you? Answer: We have to distinguish what kind of monuments were talking about. Adolph Hitler gets none, although he was kind to dogs. Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in the demolition of statues of heroes who, from one day to the next, appear to follow the exploits of the Egyptian Pharaohs. 4. Despite its relatively small price tag, it is still worth considering, especially when compared to the total cost of the Civil War and its aftermath. Citizens have the right to express themselves in ways that respect their personal beliefs by creating statues and holding controversial opinions. They are usually constructed to commemorate momentous events or important figures in history. Brian Palmer and Seth Freed Wessler, The Costs of the Confederacy, smithsonianmag.com, Dec 2018, 5. And dont forgetthe Confederacy lost. There is an issue which has sparked some conflict which is based on the topic of whether or not Confederate Statues and Confederate symbols should be removed due to the background that they represent. The Confederate monuments and statues should be removed not only because they are offensive and outdated, but also because they represent Virginia in the 1890s rather than in the 21st century. Then youre asking museums to do a lot of work they dont want to do and maybe shouldnt be doing. Take away anything that smacks of the sort of imperialist legacy which clearly that statue embodies. [32] [33], Of the calls to take down Confederate monuments, President Donald Trump stated, This cruel campaign of censorship and exclusion violates everything we hold dear as Americans. Many people believe that these statues and monuments are inciting white supremacy and promoting violence. How will Mr. DeSantiss wild Disney ride end? 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. The media should publish their anniversaries and conduct tests based on their significance. His explorations united a world previously divided by hemispheres. Sophia A. Nelson claims in her book that Washingtons Lee University didnt hate black students because it had statues of Robert E. Lee and George Washington. Several years have passed since the debate over the removal of Confederate statues began. PRO AND CON: Should Confederate monuments be removed? If so, how? They can be seen as a form of art. Confederate statues were the focus of protests in Richmond, Virginia, last summer. Also removed from the monuments base was a 133-year-old copper time capsule containing artifacts and ephemera related to the Confederacy. And thats so important, because future generations will see those images of self-representation of groups that have traditionally been excluded from these monuments making a statement about how colonization has affected them, or how they have survived and are resilient. It does not disqualify him that he selected a husband for his daughter rather than allowing her to select one for herself. [42], Jefferson is the author of two of our most dear principles as a country: equality and religious freedom. Theres one school of thought that says communities should be the ones to decide. The Virginia statues still stood amid the protests following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, though they were tagged with graffiti. Senior Editor at Arc Digital. GAZETTE: What about the slippery slope argument? The statues represent the countrys history, no matter how complicated. First, removing all these statues and monuments cost a lot of money and take a long time. GREENE: But is there an argument that removing these statues could help further the fight for racial equality in our country? Catherine Thorbecke, Walmart donates $100K to replace Arkansas' Confederate-linked statues at the US Capitol, abcnew.go.com, July 7, 2020, 32. Confederate statues depict anti-abolitionists as heroes and very honorable men, therefore they should be removed. The main duty is not to hide the bitter parts. Most monuments I'm aware of attest to conquered people and lands, including my people., 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. A statue of George Washington in Caracas, Venezuela, was damaged during an attack by a bomb in 2008. The removal of Confederate monuments is usually around $1.8 million in total, but this varies by location. Arguments for why Confederate statues should be removed include the Confederacy's shameful history of treason and white supremacy, as well as the original purpose of these statues, which was to intimidate Black Americans while celebrating white power. Chan School of Public Health celebrates opening of $25M Thich Nhat Hanh Center for research, approaches to mindfulness, Women who suppressed emotions had less diverse microbiomes in study that also found specific bacterial link to happiness, Tenn. lawmaker Justin Pearson, Parkland survivor David Hogg 23 talk about tighter gun control, GOP attempts to restrict voting rights, importance of local politics, Dangers involved in rise of neurotechnology that allows for tracking of thoughts, feelings examined at webinar, 2023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Arguments for why Confederate statues should be removed include the Confederacy's shameful history of treason and white supremacy, as well as the original purpose of these statues, which was to intimidate Black Americans while celebrating white power. The significance of a Civil War memorial varies from group to group, and there is always an urgent need for history to be told. Some people argue that these statues are a reminder of the countrys history and should be left in place, while others believe that they are a symbol of oppression and should be removed. Dessi Gomez, Hello, Dolly? It is not acceptable to state that statues represent history if they do not represent the roles and responsibilities they serve. GREENE: Historian Manisha Sinha is the author of "The Slave's Cause: A History Of Abolition.". Despite being recognized around the world as a hero, Columbus statues have long been criticized as a result of his colonization and genocide of Indigenous cultures. What are your thoughts on a separate museum for such statues? Monuments of people statuary I think come out of a tradition of imitation. He freed that slave. There is a plaque next to the Peace Monument in Atlanta, Georgia, that states, This monument should no longer serve as a memorial for white Brotherhood. Remove Confederate statues from public places based on the pros and cons. The Onion looks at the pros and cons of removing historical statues. They are also a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for the Confederacy and a symbol of Southern heritage. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill, by Rob Natelson, opinion contributor - 09/20/17 7:40 AM ET, First Republic fallout: Democrats fume as regulators bail out yet another failed bank, Yellen says drop-dead date for debt ceiling is June 1, Hunter Biden appears in court for paternity case, Big birds are having fewer chicks as climate changes, AI chatbot outperforms human doctors in responding to patient questions, Bidens plan to address migrant surge may make it worse, Who will replace Tucker Carlson at Fox News? SINHA: I think then it becomes a purely destructive exercise, a way you are simply destroying all monuments and all statues. 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. GAZETTE: In the past, people have suggested the monuments should stay, but that additional plaques or other information should be incorporated to add context. I got more interested in the U.S. history of monuments when I started to look around and wonder where all the neoclassical buildings came from. Many of them were erected decades after the fall of the Confederacy as a way to remind Black Americans of their place in society. The Mdia Exterior de Chvez highlights how the country responds to its problems: through its actions, the country seeks to advance human rights, including the rights of foreigners, as a result of the decreto de 1817.