INTERPRETING AFRICA

Africa of the 4 Continents Monuments in NYC

Four of the photographs curated in my recent issue entitled “Our Cotton” are of a beautiful figurative marble sculpture of “Africa”, one of 4 monuments called “The Four Continents” that greet visitors at the front of the Alexander Hamilton US Custom House in Bowling Green, now serving as the National Museum of the American Indian.

I specifically shot the monument for its artistic beauty and included it because the theme aligns with the ongoing mission of my project; which is to explore the ways Black culture is embraced while the creators of that culture are not. That culture I call cotton and how do people love “Our Cotton.”

The work is an allegorical depiction of Africa personified by a half-clothed woman with slight African features who appears exhausted, a stark difference to the other 3 figurative monuments also featuring female forms and representing “Asia, America and Europe.” 

It was shown to the public in 1905 so I had no illusions about the beliefs that may have influenced its creation but was struck by the significance of a public work on this scale and notoriety that depicted a Black woman during a period of time that did not embrace us. As the photographer I had my own interpretation of the meaning but was still prepared to remove it from the selection based on what my research revealed.  

Well, the first description of the work I encountered referred to it as… “problematic.” In an age where we have become more self-aware of our collective biases, it makes perfect sense a work like this would come under scrutiny. We have an obligation to create public spaces that are free of the idealistic propaganda that distorts truth and intimidates any group of our society, which is why I support the removal of confederate monuments. This, however, is very different despite all the racial and imperialist issues carries.

The following is what I unearthed:

Starting with the artist, Daniel Chester French. 

• Although French is not Black his work was influenced by certain aspects of culture created by Black people and appropriated to make his grand statement. Which is why it wasn’t disqualified for inclusion.
• He was a member of the exclusive Half Moon Club alongside Henry Fairfield Osborn and Madison Grant who were leaders in the racists Eugenics movement, however, according to the New-York Historical Society, “…there is little to no evidence that many Half Moon members actually subscribed to the theories of Grant, Osborn and their cohorts either.” French may have been a member as a way to gain lucrative projects like the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. Yeah, he created that.
• He remarked to a reporter that Africa was, "clearly the slumbering continent."
• He denied using a European idealized vision of Africa as Egyptian, yet obviously chose not to imbue his work with traditional African features. I mean it’s clear the figure is ethnic but appears to be of mixed ancestry to me which I don’t think was his intention but I will take nonetheless.

Now taking all of the above into consideration and including my thoughts this work went from being questionable to being representational of what I’m try to do in my project. 

By that I mean, artwork like this that can be interpreted so broadly and evoke real conversation about race, perception, and cultural appropriation needs to remain in the physical public domain. This can produce teachable moments as we explore this country’s past of colonialism or its future of inclusion. 

When I first saw the sculpture, I didn’t see the “slumbering continent” French remarked about. I saw a figure stripped bare, exhausted from all that had been taken and honestly is still being taken today. I see a figure that is still strong despite all that and one that rests on national history symbolized by the Sphinx under one arm and a connection to the natural world symbolized by the big cat under her other arm. 

Let me conclude as we consider the “energy” of the location it was built on. 

• This is the site the Dutch conducted that notorious transaction to purchase Manhattan for $24 from a Native American tribe with no concept of land ownership. 
• It was the site where an equestrian statue of George III was pulled down and destroyed by colonist upon first hearing the words of the Declaration of Independence read out loud.
• The Alexander Hamilton US Customs House assessed and collected duties and taxes on all imported goods and was the biggest revenue generator in the US. Revenue from all over the world 

Bowling Green is a location famous for deals, revolution, and transactions of other peoples “cotton.”