Giant Statue of Black “Plus Size” Woman Erected In NYC’s Times Square

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A massive 12-foot bronze statue of an overweight black woman has just been erected at Times Square in New York City.

The woman is dressed in plain clothes (looks like some yoga pants and all ill-fitting t-shirt with no bra underneath) and sits in between two existing statues of white men.

How stunning and brave.

Here it is, in all its ‘glory’:

So, you might be asking yourself…why is a gargantuan statue of a fat black woman on display at Times Square?

Good question.

Apparently, it’s to “contrast” the other statues of white men on display.

On its website, the Times Square Art group says:

A fictionalized character constructed from images, observations, and open calls spanning between Los Angeles and London, the young woman depicted in Grounded in the Stars carries familiar qualities, from her stance and countenance to her everyday clothing. In her depiction, one recognizes a shared humanity, yet the contrapposto pose of her body and the ease of her stance is a subtle nod to Michelangelo’s David. Through scale, materiality, and posture, Grounded in the Stars disrupts traditional ideas around what defines a triumphant figure and challenges who should be rendered immortal through monumentalization.

Installed at ground level on a wide low base, the work invites engagement with the hundreds of thousands of people who traverse the plazas each day, the woman in Grounded in the Stars cuts a stark contrast to the pedestaled permanent monuments — both white, both men — which bookend Duffy Square, while embodying a quiet gravity and grandeur. In a culture that increasingly encourages a faster pace, Grounded in the Stars is an introspective meditation on humanity. Price’s work offers viewers a unique opportunity to experience Times Square in a new light, and share in a moment of personal reflection and empathy amidst the hyperactivity of the district.

The two white men that the unique statue sits between are a WW1 hero and Broadway superstar:

Outkick noted:

  • One of the white men is World War I hero Father Francis Duffy who became the most highly decorated cleric in the history of the U.S. Army for his efforts during combat on the Western Front in France. Duffy was honored with the Distinguished Service Cross for his service to the United States which included caring for wounded and dying men.
  • The other white man is George C. Cohan who is regarded as a Broadway hero who was America’s first show business superstar. NPR says Cohan should be remembered as the man who “created Broadway.” In other words, without Cohan’s efforts in the early 20th century, there’s a chance there’s no Times Square for the 12-foot overweight black woman to chill for the next couple of months.

Ah, I see, it’s art, meant to serve as an “introspective mediation on humanity.”

How insightful.

 

Here I was, thinking that the meaning was something more like this:

Recall how New York City removed a statue of Thomas Jefferson from its city hall a few years ago?

Well, now, we can all be happy to know that New York is swapping out racist founding fathers for masterpieces of chubby black women!

How freeing!

Although the statue is meant to depict a fictionalized character, many social media users are noting some very glaring similarities between two real-life women…

Leticia James and Fani Willis!

Take a look at these hilarious comparisons:



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