Open Thread Thursday: Should Race Matter in Commissioning a Statue of Harriet Tubman?

(Source: Artforum)

In 2020 a statue of Harriet Tubman, sculpted by Wesley Wofford, went on display in Philadelphia in celebration of the abolitionist’s 200th birthday. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Because the statue had been privately commissioned, however, the city decided to hire Wofford to design a new statue of Tubman for permanent exhibit.

The city eventually reversed course after people expressed concern that the city had not opened a public process that would allow local artists—especially Black artists—to submit their proposals.

Wofford is white.