______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: Statute of Liberty Author: Jimmy Parker <[log in to unmask]> at PO_EXTERNET Date: 2/11/00 12:22 PM ______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: Statute of Liberty Author: [log in to unmask] at Internet-USA Date: 2/11/2000 11:21 AM Something to make you wonder, Hmmmm. Statue of Liberty ??? >> >> Subject: Black Fact >> > >> > It's amazing the things you can find out!!! >> > Received this from a friend.. >> > >> > Good day, It is hard to believe that after my many years of >> > schooling (secondary and post) >> > the following facts about the Statue of Liberty was never >> > taught. >> > >> > Hundreds of thousands if not millions of people including >> > myself have visited the Statue of >> > Liberty over the years but yet I'm unable to find one person >> > who knows the true history behind the Statue ... >> > amazing. >> > >> > Yes, amazing that so much important Black history (such as >> > this) is hidden from us (Black and White). >> > What makes this even worse is the fact that the current twist >> > on history perpetuates and promotes >> > white supremacy at the expense of Black Pride.>During my visit >> > to France I saw the original Statue of Liberty. >> > However there was a difference, the statue in France is Black. >> > >> > "Ya learn something new everyday!" The Statue of Liberty was >> > originally a Black woman, but, >> > as memory serves, it was because the model was Black. In a >> > book called "The Journey of The >> > Songhai People", according to Dr. Jim Haskins, a member of the >> > National Education Advisory >> > Committee of the Liberty-Ellis Island Committee, professor of >> > English at the University Of Florida, >> > and prolific Black author, points out that what stimulated the >> > original idea for that 151 foot statue in >> > the harbor. He says that the idea for the creation of the >> > statue initially was the part that Black soldiers >> > played in the ending of Black African Bondage in the United >> > States. It was created in the mind of the >> > French historian Edourd de Laboulaye, chairman of the French >> > Anti-Slavery Society, who, together >> > with sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, proposed to the >> > French government that the people of France >> > present to the people of the United States through the American >> > Abolitionist Society, the gift of a Statue >> > of Liberty in recognition of the fact that Black soldiers won >> > the Civil War in the United States. It was widely >> > known then that it was Black soldiers who played the pivotal >> > role in winning the war, and this gift would be a >> > tribute to their prowess. >> > >> > Suzanne Nakasian, director of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis >> > Island Foundations' National Ethnic Campaign >> > said that the Black Americans' direct connection to Lady >> > Liberty is unknown to the majority of Americans, >> > BLACK or WHITE. >> > >> > When the statue was presented to the US. Minister to France in >> > 1884, it is said that he remonstrated that >> > the dominant view of the broken shackles would be offensive to >> > a U.S. South, because since the statue >> > was a reminder of Blacks winning their freedom. It was a >> > reminder to a beaten South of the ones who caused >> > their defeat, their despised former captives. >> > >> > Documents of Proof: >> > 1.) You may go and see the original model of the Statue of >> > Liberty, with the broken chains at her feet and in >> > her left hand. Go to the Museum of the City of N.Y, Fifth >> > Avenue and 103rd Street (212) 534-1672 or call the >> > same number and dial ext.208 and speak to Peter Simmons and he >> > can send you some documentation. >> > >> > 2.)Check with the N.Y. Times magazine, part II May 18, 1986. >> > >> > 3.) The dark original face of the Statue of Liberty can be seen >> > in the N.Y. Post June 17, 1986, also the Post >> > stated the reason for the broken chains at her feet. >> > >> > 4.) Finally, you may check with the French Mission or the >> > French Embassy at the U.N or in Washington, D.C. >> > and ask for some original French material on the Statue of >> > Liberty, including the Bartholdi original model. >> > You can call in September (202) 944-6060 or 6400. >> > >> > Please pass this information along! >> > Knowledge is Power!