New Harriet Tubman Statue Design Selected for Philadelphia’s City Hall After Controversy
A new design for a Harriet Tubman statue outside of Philadelphia’s city hall has been selected, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. It will be the first portrayal of an historical Black woman in the city’s public art collection. The city previously faced criticism for initially selecting a white male artist.
Jersey City–based sculptor Alvin Pettit beat out four competing semifinalists. His bronze statue, titled A Higher Power: The Call of a Freedom Fighter, will stand almost 14 feet tall. It will depict Tubman standing on a pile of broken shackles with her hands folded in prayer and a rifle hanging on her shoulder.
