This controversy lives on.   In removing Gen. Lee's likeness, the city also
had to remove the likeness of Powhatan, the mighty "king" of the first
settlers of eastern Virginia, the father of Pocahontas.

This system of murals was left up to a committee of historians and museum
folk, and one of America's leading museum exhibit designers advised on what
could be done, and carried it out.  The city government itself was not
consulted; there was no involvement by the larger community.  It does indeed
carry the lesson for all museum people that no museum can afford to ignore
its constituencies.

Sa'ad El-Amin, the councilman who raised the storm about Lee, spoke in
typically exaggerated terms.  He has used exaggeration for most of his
brilliant career.  But this canal walk was in his district...and no one in
that district was ever asked to be part of its design.   On the other hand,
there was no one in the city "arguing" to include Lee.  The people were just
plain left out.

Those in charge of the outdoor "museum" have regrouped and will now have
their plans reconsidered via a committee of citizens.  That should have been
done a year ago.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vincent Brooks <[log in to unmask]>


>Listmembers,
>   Contrary to some responses, I do think the events in Richmond have a
>bearing on the museum community.  After all, what entities deal more with
>public memory?





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