Copyright © David G. Wilson 2003,
Painted wood cutout, & Painted Aluminium sheet; Collection of the artist.
Warning
This sculpture and text are published via this medium only for the intellectual edification of the general public . No unauthorized commercial use is allowed without expressed written permission.
The ideals of Freedom that were espoused in the USA were not truly realized until 1965, when the vestiges of Jim Crow laws finally began to disappear with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Today, we can truly say that America is the "land of the free and the home of the brave". Recently we saw JUSTICE being done after forty years. Better late than never. The perpetrator of the horrible slaying of three(3) civil rights workers has finally been brought to justice. The murderer of Medger Evers finally faced the true meaning of "Justice For ALL". In those days Jim Crow laws made a mockery of the laws of this great land when he tried to chase Liberty away. Today he is a mare ghost of his former self and it is a cause for celebration.
In this sculpture, we see a frontal view of a face that represents Rosa Parks ,(the spark). Because her appearance on the Civil Right scene helped to accelerate the counter-chase and ultimate demise of Jim Crow. The woman running with the flag represents Freedom (Lady Liberty). The outline of her back, backleg and flapping coatail create a profile which, with the negative space that follows up to the trailing flag, create the image of the ghost of Jim Crow, spitting fire of hatred. Yes, there may be some scattered incidents of racial friction as there will always be, but legally Jim Crow is DEAD. All that's left of him is a ghost, that tries occasionally to chase Freedom (Lady Liberty) away. Therefore,it's incumbent on every American to protect Freedom (Lady Liberty) from the ghost of Jim Crow.