Written by Greg Ritchie
messenger reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY – A mural commissioned for the recently renovated Crockett Walmart® has sparked controversy after The Messenger published photos of artist Rhonda Price and her mural in print and online editions.
The social media post quickly took on a life of its own, garnering (at the time of writing) over 25,000 views, hundreds of comments, and dozens of shares. Neither Messenger nor the artist himself expected any backlash, but the mural’s depiction of cotton is a crop that was primarily worked by slaves until their emancipation in 1865, so African Americans Some people commented that it was unpleasant for them.
The Messenger asked Price about cotton on the day the mural was installed, and Price said he had discovered through research how important a crop this is in Houston County’s history and decided to include it in the mural. Ta. Latexo Price, who has taught art at ISD for 27 years, said he never expected this to be offensive to anyone and did not expect any backlash or disapproval.
Sources say the process of installing murals in the national chain’s stores is time-consuming and involves many steps. Local stores suggest artists and art, and store employees vote to decide. The issue is then sent to a third-party company who works with the artist to adjust the design, size, and content. No one seemed to feel uncomfortable with the mural during any of these steps.
Online, many commenters were outraged by the store’s decision to remove the mural, saying it was a beautiful piece of work and that cotton remains an important crop in the county, always harvested by people of all races. said.
On the other side, some argued that this was offensive to African Americans and that they would not understand what this meant to them. They also criticized the mural for lacking other symbols of African American history.
Art is subjective, so it’s always difficult to judge or understand an artist’s vision or message. The issue quickly heated up, with some calling for a boycott of the store, and officials on both sides told reporters they were frustrated and there appeared to be no compromise that everyone could agree on.
There was one protester holding a placard at the opening ceremony on Friday, October 20th, but otherwise the ceremony went off without incident. (See related article in today’s newspaper.)
There were a number of unsubstantiated rumors circulating online, including one criticizing another local artist who was angry because he had not been commissioned to do a mural. From the information Messenger has, this appears to be false.
It was argued that the inclusion of the Downs-Aldrich mansion was offensive because it was built by slave owners. This house was actually built in his early 1890s, about 30 years after slavery was abolished.
It is also rumored that Crockett Mayor Dr. Ianthea Fisher personally directed the store to remove the mural. Crockett City Manager John Angerstein released a statement after the ceremony, saying the store is terminating its relationship with the city.
“We are aware that there is an ongoing heated debate within our community regarding the mural at our local Walmart® store. Some members of the public have expressed concerns about the perceived racial impact of the mural. ® , Walmart® management made the decision to remove the mural.
This statement is intended to clarify specific events. After Walmart® management consulted the Mayor regarding these public concerns, a meeting was held with Walmart® management, myself, and the Mayor. The Mayor and I shared ideas to address the concerns. Neither of us recommended that the mural be removed. The decision to remove the mural was made by the corporation. Crockett city officials were not involved in this decision.
We would like to express our support and gratitude to mural artist Rhonda Price, a member of our community who poured her talent and creativity into this project. It is important to remember that her work was intended to contribute to the beauty and cultural richness of our community. We look forward to seeing more of her work and hope she realizes that she is appreciated.
Even in the face of differing opinions, we encourage constructive and respectful dialogue among all citizens to honor the diversity of our community. Together, we can find common ground that promotes understanding, unity, and respect for all residents of the City of Crockett. ”
Anger remained high, with some calling for an end to the disturbances and for the community to work together. Price herself issued a statement saying she is working with the store to create a new mural that will please the community and expects it to be completed in about a month. (See the accompanying article in this issue for Mr. Price’s full statement.)
Greg Ritchie can be contacted at: [email protected]