City Seeks Original Quote for Harriet Tubman Statue in Philly
The City of Philadelphia has launched an open call for a local writer to craft an original quote that will be etched into the back of a soon-to-be-installed 15-foot statue of abolitionist Harriet Tubman outside City Hall. The city is on the hunt for a unique phrase that reflects Tubman's enduring impact on future generations, with a submission period set to close on March 1.
The quote, which will appear on the base of the sculpture, must be a one- or two-sentence response to the question: "What does it mean to walk in Harriet Tubman's footsteps today?" The submissions can take various forms, from literal statements to narrative or metaphorical expressions that capture the essence of Tubman's legacy.
A selection committee will review the submissions and narrow down the list to 10 quotes. These finalists will then be put to a public vote by Philadelphia residents, who will choose the winning quote. While the selected quote will appear on the statue attributed to "A Philadelphia citizen," the actual writer will receive credit in the piece's description.
The Harriet Tubman statue itself is the result of an artist competition that closed last year. The winning design, "A Higher Power: The Call of a Freedom Fighter," was created by Alvin Pettit and features a 15-foot sculpture of Tubman during her military service. Although the completion date has not been confirmed, officials have expressed their intention to install the statue in the near future.
The project is an effort to honor Tubman's legacy and provide a platform for Philadelphia writers to showcase their work. The city's decision to launch this open call follows criticism of its initial $500,000 commission to create a permanent statue without involving local artists or residents in the selection process.
The City of Philadelphia has launched an open call for a local writer to craft an original quote that will be etched into the back of a soon-to-be-installed 15-foot statue of abolitionist Harriet Tubman outside City Hall. The city is on the hunt for a unique phrase that reflects Tubman's enduring impact on future generations, with a submission period set to close on March 1.
The quote, which will appear on the base of the sculpture, must be a one- or two-sentence response to the question: "What does it mean to walk in Harriet Tubman's footsteps today?" The submissions can take various forms, from literal statements to narrative or metaphorical expressions that capture the essence of Tubman's legacy.
A selection committee will review the submissions and narrow down the list to 10 quotes. These finalists will then be put to a public vote by Philadelphia residents, who will choose the winning quote. While the selected quote will appear on the statue attributed to "A Philadelphia citizen," the actual writer will receive credit in the piece's description.
The Harriet Tubman statue itself is the result of an artist competition that closed last year. The winning design, "A Higher Power: The Call of a Freedom Fighter," was created by Alvin Pettit and features a 15-foot sculpture of Tubman during her military service. Although the completion date has not been confirmed, officials have expressed their intention to install the statue in the near future.
The project is an effort to honor Tubman's legacy and provide a platform for Philadelphia writers to showcase their work. The city's decision to launch this open call follows criticism of its initial $500,000 commission to create a permanent statue without involving local artists or residents in the selection process.
I mean, what's next? We'll be getting new quotes for every public statue and monument? It just seems like another fad to me. Can't we just leave well enough alone? A simple inscription with a famous quote from Harriet Tubman's biography would've been fine too, no need to involve all the drama and competition. And what's up with having 10 quotes in one place for public voting? It's just going to be some cheesy, popular phrase that gets picked because everyone loves it, not necessarily something meaningful or thought-provoking... 
just had an idea about what quote would be perfect for that Harriet Tubman statue... "Her footsteps may have stopped, but her spirit keeps on walking". 
it's simple yet powerful, and i think it captures the essence of what it means to walk in Tubman's footsteps today 
. Anyway, I think it's so cool that they're having an open call for people to write their own quote about what walking in Harriet Tubman's footsteps means today 
. Like, my grandma always used to say "the struggles of the past shape the future" and I'm sure some writer out there will come up with something really deep like that 
. The fact that it'll be a public vote is kinda cool too, like everyone gets a chance to weigh in on what they think 
. Oh, and I love that the actual writer will get credit in the piece's description, that's so nice of them 
. Can't wait to see how it all turns out!
they're letting people from philly get involved in creating something special about harriet tubman... it's amazing how much impact she had on history, and now they wanna keep her legacy alive 
it's like, we should all be walking in her footsteps every day, fighting for equality and freedom. can't wait to see the submissions! 
. As for the quote itself, I think something simple yet powerful would work well – maybe "Her feet may have stopped, but her spirit continues to move" 
.
just kidding! But seriously, did you know that only 15% of American students learn about Harriet Tubman in school? 
it's crazy how much we can overlook our own history. Anyway, I think this open call for a quote is a great way to engage with the community and get some fresh perspectives on her legacy. Stats show us that 60% of Philly residents support public art installations, so this project has got some serious momentum behind it 
1 in 5 historians believe she played a more significant role than we give her credit for. Mind blown, right? 
! it's about time we see more local voices being heard in our city's public art spaces 
. the fact that they're opening up this call for an original quote shows that they value community input and want to make sure the final product truly represents what philly stands for 
! #HarrietTubmanDeservesLove #PhillyPride #CommunityFirst
we need more of these types of projects that celebrate our city's history & culture 
But at the same time, it's also super cool that we get to see some original quotes from locals, you know? 
On the other hand, I'm kinda worried that the winning quote might be all cheesy or something... 
Guess only time'll tell, right? 