Current:Home > FinanceA monument of Harriet Tubman now replaces a statue of Christopher Columbus in Newark -MoneyMatrix
A monument of Harriet Tubman now replaces a statue of Christopher Columbus in Newark
Benjamin Ashford View
Date:2025-04-10 02:01:15
A new monument honoring abolitionist Harriet Tubman was unveiled in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday, replacing a long-standing statue of Christopher Columbus.
The monument — named "Shadow of a Face"— was unveiled Thursday in Newark's newly renamed Harriet Tubman Square, paying homage to both Tubman's and the city's role in the Underground Railroad along with the Black Liberation Movement's history in the area, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said in a news release.
The title of the monument was inspired by Robert Hayden's 1962 poem entitled "Runagate Runagate," which references Tubman.
"In a time when so many cities are choosing to topple statues that limit the scope of their people's story, we have chosen to erect a monument that spurs us into our future story of exemplary strength and solidity," Baraka said in a statement.
"We have created a focal point in the heart of our city that expresses our participation in an ongoing living history of a people who have grappled through many conflicts to steadily lead our nation in its progress toward racial equality," he added.
The 25-foot-tall monument includes a mosaic of tiles and a circular learning wall inscribed with stories of Tubman's life and the history of Newark's Black liberation movement. The portrait wall features an image of Tubman at its base while the mosaic features ceramic tiles commissioned by Newark residents, according to the news release.
Nina Cooke John, a New Jersey native and the monument's designer, said the monument celebrates both the legacy of Tubman and the lives of current Newark residents — as it connects their stories to Tubman's.
"Her heroism is recognized, and space is claimed for her story in this historic park, while her humanity is made accessible so that we can all be empowered by her deeds both great and small," Cooke John said in a news release.
Born Araminta Ross, Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland around 1822. She later married John Tubman, a free Black man, around 1844 and changed her name from Araminta to Harriet. Tubman escaped slavery in 1849 and helped more than 300 others to freedom.
The Christopher Columbus statue that Tubman's monument replaces was removed in June 2020 during the summer's racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The City of Newark took down the Columbus statue to avoid people toppling or taking it down during protests, Baraka said in a June 2020 tweet.
The racial protests prompted for the removal or renaming of several controversial monuments and statues across the country.
veryGood! (39559)
Related
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- World Talks on a Treaty to Control Plastic Pollution Are Set for Nairobi in February. How To Do So Is Still Up in the Air
- Bridgerton Unveils First Look at Penelope and Colin’s Glow Up in “Scandalous” Season 3
- Rihanna Has Love on the Brain After A$AP Rocky Shares New Photos of Their Baby Boy RZA
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- The Atlantic Hurricane Season Typically Brings About a Dozen Storms. This Year It Was 30
- X Factor's Tom Mann Honors Late Fiancée One Year After She Died on Their Wedding Day
- Daniel Radcliffe, Jonah Hill and More Famous Dads Celebrating Their First Father's Day in 2023
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- A Complete Timeline of Teresa Giudice's Feud With the Gorgas and Where Their RHONJ Costars Stand
Ranking
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Khloe Kardashian Congratulates Cuties Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker on Pregnancy
- Get In on the Quiet Luxury Trend With Mind-Blowing Tory Burch Deals up to 70% Off
- FAA contractors deleted files — and inadvertently grounded thousands of flights
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Russia has amassed a shadow fleet to ship its oil around sanctions
- America, we have a problem. People aren't feeling engaged with their work
- Ecuador’s High Court Affirms Constitutional Protections for the Rights of Nature in a Landmark Decision
Recommendation
Intellectuals vs. The Internet
Coal-Fired Power Plants Hit a Milestone in Reduced Operation
The Fed has been raising interest rates. Why then are savings interest rates low?
A woman is ordered to repay $2,000 after her employer used software to track her time
$73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
Shop the Cutest Travel Pants That Aren't Sweatpants or Leggings
If You're a Very Busy Person, These Time-Saving Items From Amazon Will Make Your Life Easier
Mung bean omelet, anyone? Sky high egg prices crack open market for alternatives