In the pantheon of American symbols, few are as iconic—or as fraught—as the Statue of Liberty. For over a century, Lady Liberty has stood as a beacon of immigration, hope, and democratic ideals. Yet, for millions of Black Americans, the symbol has historically felt like a closed door, representing a promise that was never intended for them. Artist and storyteller Nancey B. Price is now challenging this narrative with her provocative new work, Of Liberty. By stripping away the "statue" from the title and centering the bodies of those historically marginalized, Price is forcing a national reckoning with who truly belongs in the American story. The Core Concept: Redefining Liberty Of Liberty is not merely an art piece; it is a conceptual intervention. The work features a central figure—a tattooed Black man crowned by a radiant sun halo—positioned above a vibrant, thriving community engaged in communal acts of joy, such as dancing and yoga. The visual language is one of reclamation, suggesting that divinity and freedom are not external gifts bestowed by a government, but internal states of being that are nurtured within Black culture. Price’s decision to remove the word "statue" from the title is a deliberate linguistic and philosophical shift. "Our bodies, our culture, and our ways of being are not static," Price explains. "They move freely, grow, and evolve with each new generation." By reframing the icon as a living, breathing entity rather than a cold, inanimate monument, Price asserts that the Black experience in America is defined by movement, resilience, and evolution—qualities that are inherently antithetical to the rigid, stoic nature of traditional statues. A Chronology of Exclusion and Resilience To understand the weight of Price’s work, one must look at the historical trajectory of the American immigration and freedom narrative. 1886: The Dedication: The Statue of Liberty is dedicated in New York Harbor. While it serves as a global symbol of freedom, the United States is in the midst of the Jim Crow era, effectively nullifying the promises of liberty for Black citizens. The 20th Century: The American "immigration story" is popularized in school curriculums, emphasizing the "melting pot" of European arrivals. During this period, the Black experience—shaped by the Great Migration, the struggle for Civil Rights, and the persistence of systemic economic exclusion—is largely sidelined or omitted from the patriotic narrative. 2020–2025: The Shift in Cultural Consciousness: The global protests following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent rise in conversations surrounding reparations and historical truth-telling create a vacuum in the public square. Artists begin to actively dismantle white-washed history. 2026: The Unveiling of Of Liberty: Nancey B. Price releases her reimagining of the icon, centering Black joy and heritage. This work marks a turning point in contemporary art, shifting the focus from historical trauma to the preservation and celebration of Black cultural survival. The Context: Why This Work Matters Now The significance of Of Liberty cannot be overstated in the current climate of American politics. Journalism, nonprofits, and the very concept of a multiracial democracy are currently facing unprecedented pressure. As debates over Critical Race Theory, historical curriculum, and the role of systemic racism in modern society dominate headlines, artists like Price serve as vital documentarians of the truth. Price’s perspective is informed by her background in rural Georgia, a landscape steeped in both the horrors of the past and the richness of Southern Black tradition. Her work, which often utilizes analog collage, acts as a bridge between memory and modern identity. By layering visual narratives, she blurs the boundaries between the "everyday" and the "extraordinary," forcing viewers to acknowledge the sanctity of the Black body—a body that has been systematically devalued by the very society that claims to offer "liberty for all." "Unlike the more palatable immigration stories that this country often highlights," Price notes, "my ancestors did not receive a warm welcome when they arrived on this land in chains, nor were they accepted even after gaining their freedom." This statement highlights the fundamental disconnect between the American ideal and the American reality. The Artist’s Practice: Storytelling as Resistance Nancey B. Price is not a newcomer to the intersection of art and social commentary. Her body of work, including contributions to O, The Oprah Magazine and Garden & Gun, has long explored the complexities of Black Southern life. Her practice is deeply rooted in folklore and oral histories, traditions that have allowed Black communities to maintain their humanity in the face of institutional erasure. Her work as a facilitator—leading workshops at institutions like the DEEP Center and the University of South Carolina—demonstrates her belief that storytelling is a tool for liberation. By teaching others how to collage their own histories, she is democratizing the process of historical documentation. She treats creativity as a form of resistance, a way for individuals to reclaim their personal narratives from a broader, often exclusionary cultural lens. Implications for Nonprofits and Cultural Institutions The reception of Of Liberty raises important questions for the nonprofit sector and cultural institutions. How can organizations move beyond performative diversity to truly support the voices of those who are rewriting the American narrative? For nonprofit organizations dedicated to social justice, supporting artists like Price is not just a matter of patronage; it is a matter of mission. The arts provide a sensory and emotional pathway to understanding complex social issues that policy papers and news reports often miss. When an artist centers "Black joy"—as seen in the depictions of yoga and dance in Price’s work—they are signaling that the goal of social justice is not just the absence of oppression, but the presence of a flourishing, self-determined life. Furthermore, the act of paying contributors for their perspectives, as championed by platforms like Nonprofit Quarterly, is essential to maintaining the integrity of these conversations. If we are to "protect nonprofit voices," we must recognize that the labor of artists and writers is essential to the infrastructure of democracy. A Future Defined by Evolution As we look toward the future, the static nature of our monuments serves as a reminder of how far we have to go. If our symbols of liberty remain locked in the past, they will continue to alienate the very people who have contributed the most to the country’s cultural wealth. Of Liberty invites us to step away from the pedestal and into the community. It asks us to consider that true freedom is not a static object in a harbor, but a dynamic, evolving practice. It demands that we look at the Black body—the tattooed man with the sun halo—and recognize that he is not "other." He is the present, he is the future, and he is the embodiment of a liberty that is finally being defined by those who earned it through centuries of survival. In the words of Nancey B. Price, the culture and resilience cultivated by her ancestors have been "glorious." By acknowledging this glory, we move one step closer to a society that is not just a collection of historical myths, but a living, evolving reality that holds space for everyone. As the nation grapples with its identity, the message of Of Liberty serves as a clarion call: we must continue to move, to evolve, and to tell the stories that have been hidden in plain sight for far too long. The work of Nancey B. Price reminds us that we are the architects of our own liberty. The statue is a relic; the movement is the reality. Post navigation Riding the Waves of Resilience: Transforming the Narrative Around Preeclampsia Beyond the Grant: Redefining Sustainability for the Global Feminist Movement
