More on the statues at Trade and Tryon
Why point out that one of the four statues at Trade and Tryon streets in uptown Charlotte is African American?
A writer to today’s letters to the editor page asked that question in response to an item in Sunday’s Living Here column in which I described the statues. I mentioned that one is an African American railroad worker but did not give the races of the other three.
I should have provided a fuller explanation. The four statues were intended to reflect the general population of Mecklenburg County. They are 50 percent female, three-quarters white and one-quarter African American. The actual percentage in Mecklenburg in 2005 was 60.3 percent white and 29.7 percent African American according to market research firm Claritas, which also estimates the population is about 8.5 percent Latino.
Here's the original item for those who missed it:
A newcomer recently asked about the four bronze statues at The Square at Trade and Tryon streets. They’re some of uptown’s best-known landmarks. A female textile worker represents industry; a male African American railroad worker is transportation; a male gold miner, commerce; and a female with a baby, the future.
A writer to today’s letters to the editor page asked that question in response to an item in Sunday’s Living Here column in which I described the statues. I mentioned that one is an African American railroad worker but did not give the races of the other three.
I should have provided a fuller explanation. The four statues were intended to reflect the general population of Mecklenburg County. They are 50 percent female, three-quarters white and one-quarter African American. The actual percentage in Mecklenburg in 2005 was 60.3 percent white and 29.7 percent African American according to market research firm Claritas, which also estimates the population is about 8.5 percent Latino.
Here's the original item for those who missed it:
A newcomer recently asked about the four bronze statues at The Square at Trade and Tryon streets. They’re some of uptown’s best-known landmarks. A female textile worker represents industry; a male African American railroad worker is transportation; a male gold miner, commerce; and a female with a baby, the future.
posted by Leigh at
5:59 PM
6 Comments:
You know, it occurs to me that someday those things are going to be viewed as incredibly insensitive since they won't appropriately represent the all important racial, ethnic and gender percentages in Charlotte.
I suppose we'll have to add various subgroups until we get it right.
That should lead to a dozen or so statues. Of course we'll need an identifiably Hispanic construction worker, although we probably should make it possible to change his occupation over time. And of course there will be the LGBT representative. I'm not sure how that should work. We wouldn't want to stereotype, so no effeminate male or masculine female types for sure. Trying to depict the tans-gendered or bisexual representative in a politically correct fashion is just too difficult to even contemplate. That doesn't leave much other than a reprentation of the Gay Pride parade, complete with signs (how else to know but signs?) And Asians! For God's sake, we can't leave out the Asians! That ought to be easy, all things considered.
That ought to do it, at least until the demigraphics change again. You know, we're going to need more corners. . .
The statues are simply representative of Charlotte's industrial history; it doesn't have anything to do with being "politically correct." You would have a point if you focused not on "diversity demographics," but newer industries, like a statue of a banker, or a racecar driver, etc.
Don't forget to make room for a pregnant Latina woman to represent the Hispanic population boom! Matter of fact, better make a LOT of room for them.......
Anon 10:34:
Well, the column that I was reacting to was pretty explicit:
"The four statues were intended to reflect the general population of Mecklenburg County. They are 50 percent female, three-quarters white and one-quarter African American. The actual percentage in Mecklenburg in 2005 was 60.3 percent white and 29.7 percent African American . . ."
Sure sounds like there was an effort to be inclusive of various group identities. And as important as mothers are, a mother holding a child doesn't really represent our "industrial history".
That said, you absoulte right: we need a white banker, and just to be fair a black banker, and a female banker as well. Probably a developer, and let's not forget the MWBE representative. (That's an easy one: a black woman in a business suit. But to be fair, 10% of the statues should be duplicates of this one)
Lot of work to do. . .
Hi - I'm new here and why are there no hookah bars! I can't believe it! Wilmington has one, why don't we! What is going on! Cow tipping is not cool! Someone, please build a bar here that doesn't play country music... and someone else please build a hookah bar!! Geeez!!!!
Well, I think we know what you smoke in YOUR hookah, don't we. ..
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