Removal of controversial fountain expected to start soon

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Removal of controversial fountain expected to start soon
Updated 3:12 pm, Tuesday, April 10, 2018



IMAGE 1 OF 7 This July 11, 2016, photo shows the Fountain of the Pioneers in Bronson Park in Kalamazoo, Mich. The fountain that some say celebrates white supremacy is expected to be removed by the end of May 2018. Kalamazoo officials say it will be dismantled and stored until a decision is made on where to relocate it. The fountain was completed in 1940 and features a European settler with a weapon in his hand towering over a Native American. (Mark Bugnaski/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP


KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Removal of a southwestern Michigan park fountain that some say celebrates white supremacy is expected in the coming weeks.

Kalamazoo officials say the Fountain of the Pioneers in Bronson Park will be dismantled and stored until a decision is made on where to relocate it. Last month, the city commission ordered the monument removed.

The fountain was completed in 1940 and features a European settler with a weapon in his hand towering over a Native American. Some residents say the piece is racist. Others argue that it is art and can teach people about history.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Removal-of-controversial-fountain-expected-to-12821668.php#photo-15370374

[TomVilmer]

1. That is a pity...

Besides the obvious stylistic racism, it is a beautiful peace of work.

[LeftInTX]

4. It would be nice if they could just remove the white guy and leave the NA

[SkyDaddy7]

5. This is the first Ive heard of this...

Specific fountain...Just from the pic above I would’ve been ignorant to its original intent/meaning.
...However, I’m very educated when it comes to us white folks & our history of such extreme racism! As well as the modern day excuse racist or otherwise very ignorant people give to hold onto these racist icons of the past “It is not about racism it is about history, heritage or whatever.”

I live in the Deep South & there are literally 1000’s of racist monuments of all types scattered across the South! From almost every little sleepy southern town square to many of the major cities! These monuments are not only racist but they’re so childish & embarrassing!!

...I agree with you about the above fountain being really beautiful piece of art...If you can ignore the “stylistic racism”.

[Achilleaze]

2. If they installed it on the roof of Dirty Donny*s shithole republican Tower in NYC

it might put out one of the murderous frikken fires that the anti-spirnkler-and-alarm cheapskate republican traitor has happen in his stumpy dumpy tower.

* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief

[elmac]

3. I wonder if this was part of the WPA, depression era art projects

the Federal government supported the arts between 1933 and 1943, Paying for murals (many seen in old post offices) statues, ect.... Kind of art deco. I know there was demands back in the day to remove some because they were too socialist.

[TomVilmer]

6. Here are the Murals of Pawnee's Pioneer Hall

From the sitcom "Parks and Recreation"


https://imgur.com/gallery/ESA3E

[elmac]

8. yep, probably the theme of the day

my old as the hills post office has a workers party, socialist theme which is funny being in a rightwing trump loving area now

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Stephen Foster is getting booted in Pgh, too

for the sin of standing and writing down the music of an old negro sitting down beside him playing the banjo. This despite Foster dying before the end of the Civil War and reportedly being an abolishonist. Apparently no thought was given to the idea that the banjo player could possibly have been a free black since Foster himself never lived in the south.

[agueybana79]

9. Good. Throughout all the shit, glimmers of a hopeful, new future. n/t