Most people see the Statue of Liberty as a beacon for immigrants arriving in New York Harbor. But that wasn’t the monument’s original message. Conceived after the Civil War by French abolitionist Édouard de Laboulaye, Lady Liberty was meant to honor the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery.
Look closely at her feet. Hidden beneath her flowing robes lie broken chains and shackles—the unmistakable symbols of emancipation. They represent the millions of Black Americans freed after the Civil War. They remind us that liberty is not simply granted; it is won through courage and sacrifice.
Over time, the statue became an enduring symbol of immigration and opportunity. As the broken chains cannot be easily seen from most points of view, from the ground or at distance from a boat their meaning has been sadly lost and forgotten. Yet its original message remains carved in bronze. The statue suggests that freedom begins by breaking the chains of oppression. Sometimes history’s greatest stories are hiding in plain sight.
The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.
#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute
Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.