PLEASE DO NOT continue this project as it is.

Submitted by Tamala Baker

PLEASE DO NOT continue this project as it is. To do so would be a
racist slap in the faces of every person of color with African descent.
The concept of honoring the slave, who is dishonored on the Circle
monument is applaudable; however, this is not the correct or corrective
means by which that will be done.

I suggest using the original model's face and basic body structure.
However, as I stated in the article published in the Indiana Herald
Newspaper, October 19, 2010, The "Freed" Slave "should be well-clothed
(i.e., - dress casual) with socks and shoes on both feet. He should be
standing balanced, climbing that inclined pedestal, or at least in a
posture that indicates that he is intending or attempting to stand while
continuing to hold on to his heritage as depicted by the flag of
Continental African flags that he is clenching."


I am sure that the African and African-American diasporas in
Indianapolis, Indiana, and other visiting States and nations will
accept, appreciate, and celebrate this rendering of the "Freed Slave".
Mr. Wilson, should also embrace this concept, considering that he shared
that his intention is to redisplay this artwork that depicts the man in
an "empowered and upright position". There's nothing more empowering
for Blacks, Whites, and all others in between as seeing an image of a
man who is standing, rather than slipping away into oblivion because the
surface upon which he is perched is not level.

I implore the Joyce Awards Board to regard this concept of redesign and
not rescind its grant to the project if such a design is adopted.
Moreover, it is my wish (which is probably shared with many others in
our community) that they openly support this kind of reconceptualization
of this E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One) project.