What to do with a Stephen Foster statue with a black man at his feet?

Over 150 years since his death, scholars and musicians still argue about the racial legacy of Pittsburgh native Stephen Foster. But to many observers, the issues surrounding Foster’s 10-foot-statue on Forbes Avenue are somewhat more clear-cut.

“It’s the single most offensive display of public art in Pittsburgh, hands down,” said Paradise Gray, a hip-hop activist, musician and writer. “It permanently depicts the black man at the white man’s feet.”

While sculptor Giuseppe Moretti depicted Mr. Foster seated on a perch with a visionary cast, the shoeless banjo player at his feet — identified as “Uncle Ned” after one of Foster’s songs — stares vacantly. Even the sunny assessment that Foster is taking inspiration from African-American culture angers Mr. Gray.

“He’s doing what the music industry does today: He’s got a slave playing the music, and he’s going to end up with the copyright.”

link