A replica of a controversial statue of Abraham Lincoln standing over a newly emancipated Black man has been removed from a public park in Boston. The statue by Thomas Ball depicts a Black man, shirtless and on his knees, in front of a clothed and standing Abraham Lincoln. In one hand, Lincoln holds a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, while the other is stretched out over the Black man. I would always ask myself, ‘If he’s free, why is he still on his knees?’ ”Boston Museum founder Moses Kimball donated the bronze recasting of the original Ball statue to the city in 1879. Protesters in Washington, D.C., have demanded the removal of the original statue, but it remains in Lincoln Park.

Source: Washington Post December 30, 2020 12:00 UTC