A huge Afro hair pick with a clenched “black power” fist was revealed in New Orleans on Friday in event of Juneteenth– the vacation commemorating the last American slaves being released. The eyebrow-raising statue was commonly panned online.
The 28-foot-tall hair pick weighing 7,000 pounds is entitled “All Power to All People,” and was developed by artist Hank Willis Thomas.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell– a Democrat– promoted the hair pick statue as “awesome” on Twitter.
“As Juneteenth approaches, we celebrated with an unveiling in Lafayette Sq,” Cantrell tweeted. “This sculpture is very fitting for this time & place as we celebrate the freedoms that we have gained We know that it doesn’t come without struggles, fights, and protests for 200+ years.”
Cantrell stated the city is investing $7.2 million to acknowledge “local black and brown artists,” and their artwork would be shown around public structures in New Orleans.
Breathtaking?❤️??? pic.twitter.com/gpHmzfvd1J
— Mayor LaToya Cantrell (@mayorcantrell) June 17, 2022
Furthermore, in recognition of our local black and brown artists, we have dedicated $7.2 MILLION in bond funding to public art?
➡️In addition, we have already purchased over 60 pieces of artwork created by local Black artists to be displayed in our public buildings?? pic.twitter.com/Dlw35fXV4j
— Mayor LaToya Cantrell (@mayorcantrell) June 17, 2022
Search for the story on https://t.co/ePBMG6NNcM: Two-story Black power hair pick, symbol of African identity, erected near Gallier Hall
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell calls temporary addition to city’s streetscape “Breathtaking.” Sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas. pic.twitter.com/UKf6oXeXgX— Doug MacCash (@dougmaccash) June 18, 2022
Not everybody saw the massive hair pick as “breathtaking” in reactions on Twitter – including many black Americans.
“Fearless” host Jason Whitlock: “Imagine being mayor of a major city, spending money on a monument that depicts the accomplishments of black people, and deciding on a hair pick. They would recall a white mayor for demeaning us. Instead, we’ll shout ‘Yaass Queen’ and pretend nothing is wrong.”
Author Darrell B. Harrison: “Because we all know how important it was for my ancestors to keep their afros lookin’ tight during those ‘struggles, fights, and protests.'”
The Hodge Twins: “The best their artists could come up with is a Black Power hair pick sculpture. You can’t fix stupid.”
Former congressional candidate Barrington Martin II@_BarringtonII: “Embarrassing. This is sick.”
Singer Vinnie James: “These Democrats posed in front of a giant AFRO PICK? An AFRO PICK? This is how they celebrate the freedoms black people have gained? I’m in hell. Right?”
Writer Rod Dreher: “The City of New Orleans just unveiled a giant sculpture of an Afro pick. This is a joke, but it’s not supposed to be. How humiliating for a city that has given humanity so much great culture.”
Writer Ellen Carmichael: “As New Orleans’ infrastructure crumbles and innocent people are being gunned down daily, Mayor LaToya Cantrell unveils a giant ‘black power’ hair pick in historic Lafayette Square. Her awful leadership is absolutely devastating for those with a history and love for this city.”
Lots of online commenters realized that the statue strongly resembled the big Afro hair pick in the comedy motion picture “Spaceballs.”
Major Spaceball’s vibes here. pic.twitter.com/aINsgERRKR
— Andrew (@andyb2383) June 17, 2022
Recently, Cantrell revealed a “Peace Poll” that was sponsored in part by the Tupac Amur Shakur Foundation– a company connected with the previous rap artist.
This afternoon, the City through the Department of Parks & Parkways in collaboration with the Tupac Amur Shakur Foundation, Tulane University, & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra hosted a ribbon cutting of the newly installed Peace Pole to help foster peace in our communities?⚜️ pic.twitter.com/E8TBxogzzq
— Mayor LaToya Cantrell (@mayorcantrell) June 15, 2022
H/T The Blaze