A statue of a Black woman in Times Square sparks discourse, inspiration and internet hate

A new statue in Midtown has been generating a lot of discussion, praise and vitriol.

In the less than two weeks since artist Thomas J. Price’s 12-foot tall bronze “Grounded in the Stars” sculpture – which depicts a young Black woman dressed in everyday clothes and standing with her hands on her hips – has been installed in Times Square, it has inspired a great deal of in-person intrigue and an online discourse of both love and hate.

“What makes presenting public art in Times Square so incredible and so powerful is that you know that you are going to get the widest range of reactions and perspectives,” said Jean Cooney, director of Times Square Arts, the group behind the work.

“You cannot call yourselves the crossroads of the world without being prepared to host a crossroads of opinions,” said Cooney.

On a recent sunny Thursday, people passing the statue expressed feelings ranging from positive to apathetic.

“I’m happy that it shows Black women and our bodies, because they body shame people too much,” said Kiara English.

“I think it’s beautiful. I love to see it. I wish we could see more of it,” said Chanel Moore, adding that she was unsure if the statue depicted a specific person. It in fact depicts an amalgamation of people Price has met.

Ayana Joseph called the statue a “win” for representation that she could see herself and her daughter in.

In many forums and comments online, the work is also being heralded as an empowering, accessible work that gently challenges conventional standards of beauty and representation through its existence.

In other corners of the internet, however, the piece has been met with angry comments or held up as evidence of “the wokes” attempting to take power from nearby statues, which depict white male historical figures.

Cooney said that the internet's response is incongruous with the responses she's observed in person.

“Our offices overlook this work so we really can anecdotally observe how many people are actually taking pause, and I would say more than most of our artworks, people are actually stopping. And reading the signage, too,” said Cooney.

She said she’s noticed “a true debate forming,” highlighting an Instagram slideshow illustrating various viewpoints.

Dr. Kelli Morgan, founding executive director of the Black Artists Archive, a Detroit-based nonprofit that works to preserve Black art history, said she was aware of the statue but not the hate. But she also wasn’t surprised.

"People have a hard time when there is an image of humanity or an image of labor or an image of freedom that isn't a white man. We're so socialized into seeing it," said Morgan. "When people see something they recognize but they don't necessarily see themselves in it in the way that they're used to, I think it creates a cognitive dissonance."

Laurie Cumbo, the city's Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, said that her office is exploring new ways to reflect the city's diversity in its public artwork.

"Price's contribution to this conversation is a powerful and eye-opening approach to public artwork, granting the sort of honor and reverence to the figure of a Black woman — one that could be someone's sister, mother, child or neighbor — that is more typically reserved for men on horseback," Cumbo said in an email.

Price said in a statement that he hopes “Grounded in the Stars” will “instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity.”