Speaker 1: Right now, it's time for the Way Black History Fact.
Speaker 1: In today's Way Black History Fact, we're going to talk
Speaker 1: about why the Statue of Liberty has chained feet. National
Speaker 1: Park Service INPs dot gov is where this comes from.
Speaker 1: In eighteen eighty six, the Statute of Liberty was a
Speaker 1: symbol of democratic government and Enlightenment ideals, as well as
Speaker 1: the celebration of the Union's victory in the American Civil
Speaker 1: War and the abolition of slavery. Eduard de Laboullie, the
Speaker 1: French political thinker, US constitution expert and abolitionist who first
Speaker 1: proposed the idea of a Great Monument as a gift
Speaker 1: from France to the United States, was a firm supporter
Speaker 1: of President Abraham Lincoln and his fight for abolition. La
Speaker 1: Boullie saw abolition not only as a way to eliminate immorality,
Speaker 1: but also as a way to protest repressive tendencies in France.
Speaker 1: As an abolitionist, Laboulie was an honorary member of the
Speaker 1: Philadelphia branch founded in eighteen sixty two of the Union
Speaker 1: League Club. The Union League Club was a group of
Speaker 1: people who were dedicated to the new Republican Party. The
Speaker 1: un Union's cause in the Civil War and the abolition
Speaker 1: of slavery. Additionally, Labouie was a co founder and president
Speaker 1: of the French Anti Slavery Society. This society was founded
Speaker 1: in eighteen sixty five. In essence, it called upon all
Speaker 1: nations to abolish slavery. Additionally, the members also raised money
Speaker 1: that was then given to newly freed slaves in the
Speaker 1: United States. The abolition of slavery and the Union's victory
Speaker 1: in the Civil War in eighteen sixty five, Laboullie's wishes
Speaker 1: of freedom and democracy were turning into a reality in
Speaker 1: the United States. In order to honour these achievements, Laboullier
Speaker 1: proposed that a gift be built for the United States
Speaker 1: on behalf of France. Laboulie hoped that by calling attention
Speaker 1: to the recent achievements of the United States, the French
Speaker 1: people would be inspired to call for their own democracy
Speaker 1: in the face of a repressive monarchy. When Laboulie's Statue
Speaker 1: of Liberty Enlightening the World was completed, it not only
Speaker 1: represented democracy, but also symbolized American independence and the ends
Speaker 1: of all types of servitude and oppression. A broken shackle
Speaker 1: and shame lie at the statute right foot. The chain
Speaker 1: disappears beneath the draperies, only to reappear in front of
Speaker 1: her left foot. It's in link broken. However, although the
Speaker 1: broken shackle is a powerful image, the meaning behind it
Speaker 1: was not yet a reality for African Americans in eighteen
Speaker 1: eighty six. After the statue's dedication in eighteen eighty six,
Speaker 1: the Black press began to debunk romantic notions of the
Speaker 1: Statue of Liberty and American history. Racism and discrimination toward
Speaker 1: African Americans did not end after the Civil War or
Speaker 1: with the dedication of the statue. It continued on for
Speaker 1: more than a century, and I'd argue it still continues.
Speaker 1: As a result, the statue was not a symbol of
Speaker 1: democratic government or Enlightenment ideals for African Americans, but rather
Speaker 1: a source of pain. Instead of representing freedom and justice
Speaker 1: for all, the statue emphasized the bitter ironies of America's
Speaker 1: professed identity as a just in free society for all people,
Speaker 1: regardless of race. From the time the statue's dedication, attitudes
Speaker 1: towards the statue in the African American community were ambivalent
Speaker 1: and uncertain. Now, I want to make sure that I
Speaker 1: read where this came from again, Okay, the National Park
Speaker 1: Service NPS dot gov. Okay, so this is not we
Speaker 1: said this a lot Q. This is not ramses and
Speaker 1: q's thoughts. This is not our words, this isn't chat GPT,
Speaker 1: this is in Wikipedia. This is the United States government.
Speaker 1: And I didn't see too many words in here that
Speaker 1: needed to be struck according to Trump's recent executive orders,
Speaker 1: So this truth may continue to stand. Indeed, the Statue
Speaker 1: of Liberty does honor the fact that slavery was ended
Speaker 1: in the United States, and so it does at least
Speaker 1: it was intended to represent the plight of black folks
Speaker 1: as well. And it's important, I think now more than
Speaker 1: ever to remind people that we have been a part
Speaker 1: of this country, and our struggle built this country. And
Speaker 1: if anything tells the story, it's the Statue of Liberty.
Speaker 1: So there you have it.