On the question of what will become of the billboard, that certainly was the case.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
'Black People in the Future' billboard in East Liberty is still not back up
On the question of what will become of the billboard, that certainly was the case.
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This story continues to be a complicated look at the rights of a property owner to control what speech is displayed on their property. As much as the sentiment of this statement is benign, and meant to send a positive message that people of color are part of the future, the building has the right to restrict what is displayed, as it is a private, not public entity. It seems also that the person displaying the message did not follow the right process for the building based upon the leasing agreement. This is an important message that all people should take to heart, but the person displaying it should look to find a property owner that has a policy allowing it to be displayed. The message also seems to not only be a national message, but also a message about the future of the local community that gentrification should not leave people of color behind.
I think it is ridiculous that this is an argument still up for discussion. The billboard is art. The artist should have freedom of creativity and speech. The landlord is taking that away with quotes of describing it as “erotic”?? I think it is absolutely distasteful that there isn’t more conversation about just the landlords description of this piece of work. I also think it is ridiculous that people be offended by the idea of black people being in the future. They have been here in the past, they are here currently, so of course they will be here in the future. We should not be questioning the billboard itself but the racist reactions it has stirred. The artwork is not the problem, white people’s attitudes are. There is no reason this artist’s voice should be silenced because of one person saying the sign offends him. This community needs to fight harder for this sign and I can’t wait to see it back up where it belongs.
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