There’s a new statue in Times Square, a 12-foot bronze sculpture of a nameless Black woman created by British artist Thomas J. Price. She’s not a historical figure, a leader, or even styled with formality or grace.
She’s standing still, hands on her hips, in everyday clothing, gazing into the distance. No plaque explains why she’s there, and no legacy anchors her in history. She’s simply there because “representation matters”.
The “Grounded in the Stars” statue was unveiled on April 29, 2025, and will remain on display at Broadway and 46th Street until June 17, 2025.
This isn’t empowerment; it’s an abstraction. It’s not art to inspire. It’s ideology in bronze.
Symbolism Over Substance
We’re being asked to celebrate a sculpture that doesn’t tell a story, carry a legacy, or stand for anything beyond a vague affirmation of “presence.”
Let me be clear: this isn’t about honoring the dignity of Black womanhood. It’s about sanitizing greatness until all that’s left is identity and emotion.
The artist himself admitted his work is meant to “critique the whole concept of portraiture,” arguing that traditional statues “maintain the systems of power,” according to his 2020 interview with Time Magazine. His preferred solution? Anonymous composites that counter what he calls “limiting tropes.”
There’s nothing courageous about making a statue that says nothing. That’s the real tragedy. When a culture forgets who its real heroes are, it builds statues to its insecurities.
Where Are the Real Women Worth Honoring?
We have women in our heritage who built families with faith, endured persecution, raised generations, fought for truth, upheld the Church, and led in service instead of self-promotion.
Honor Sojourner Truth. Honor Claudette Colvin. Honor women who sacrificed.
But this? This is a monument to mediocrity, a bronze participation trophy.
It’s not lifting our daughters to something higher. It’s telling them, “You exist—and that’s enough.”
That’s not empowerment. That’s deception.
The Left Doesn’t Want Heroes—It Wants Symbols
The Left wants symbols you can’t question, monuments you can’t critique. The woman in this statue doesn’t challenge culture. She reflects it.
She doesn’t stand for righteousness, excellence, or legacy. She just stands there, silent, nameless, and unchallenging.
That’s exactly what the Left wants from Black America. Stay in place. Stay dependent. Stay symbolic.
As one Instagram commenter noted about the work: “This is some leftist nonsense just to piss off white people. And based on the comments, blacks don’t like it either.” Even a Change.org petition started by a young Black woman demands its removal.
The Real Response
The reactions have been telling. While some visitors praised the “representation,” others have been far more honest about what they see.
Conservative outlets rightfully called out the work as a DEI initiative that doesn’t depict anyone with noteworthy achievements. At the same time, online critics have used the statue to generate memes mocking its very premise.
But perhaps most damning is watching tourists interact with it in person: some mimicking its pose for photos, others treating it as nothing more than a photo opportunity.
When your “empowering” statue becomes a selfie prop, you’ve already lost the battle for dignity.
We Need Daughters of Conviction, Not Bronze Abstractions
We need to raise daughters who speak with wisdom instead of vagueness, walk in strength rather than just posture, and build households of faith instead of platforms of confusion.
We don’t need more statues. We need more mothers. More mentors. More matriarchs.
Women who dress with dignity. Love with courage. Fight with truth.
Final Word
They call this statue empowerment. But if all we do is celebrate ourselves for existing, we’ve already lost. True legacy isn’t cast in bronze. It’s built in the home, formed through obedience, and sealed by sacrifice.
Let’s stop settling for hollow monuments. Let’s start honoring holy women, because Black America doesn’t need another statue. It needs strength.
