EASTON, MD - A fresh mural featuring Frederick Douglass, erected by restaurant owner Amy Haines near "Out of the Fire" in Easton, has stirred both admiration and discontent within the community. Descendants of the famed escaped slave and activist are expressing dissatisfaction with the depiction.
Haines, along with her husband Richard Marks, a supporter of the arts and environment through his foundation Dock Street, initiated the mural with the intention of creating a relatable image. Marks commented, "It's very rare that we bring the past into the present in this fashion, and we were so struck by that."
In a statement to WBOC, the artist Adam Himoff wrote, "The intent of this image has always been to examine Frederick Douglass’s legacy through the lens of modern times and modern culture… to bring him into the present and ask the question, “What would Frederick Douglass be like if he were alive today? I believe he would be someone who could powerfully connect with young people and inspire them to continue his work of rooting out injustice. That’s the kind of person we are seeing in this image of Douglass.
However, Douglass' fifth-generation nephew, Tarence Bailey, voiced his concerns about the mural, particularly pointing out issues with Douglass' wardrobe. Bailey remarked, "He wore a pocket watch, a gold pocket watch that he let his grandkids play with. The Converse tennis shoes, the pose... I'm pretty sure a lot of African Americans have had a family member send a picture home from prison, and he is in that same pose."
Bailey went on to express deeper concerns about the portrayal, stating, "It's a place that we don't ever need to go, and it's disrespectful to our elders, to our ancestors, to everybody." Bailey commented on the incident, stating, "It's garbage. It should never, whoever did it, it should have stayed on a wall in their gallery. Talbot County is not a place for it."
In response to the pose that Frederick Douglass is in, Himoff wrote, "Having been with this piece for the past several years and having shown it to thousands of people from all kinds of races and backgrounds, a discussion about this being a “prison pose” is brand new, but completely interesting and worth listening to. To me his pose is bold and confident. It’s cool, and it, undoubtedly, has strong links to the body language and imagery of Hip Hop culture, which brings him into the present and makes him relatable. There are so many interpretations of this piece, and I am glad that it is spurring valuable conversations and drawing attention to the continuing relevance and power of Frederick Douglass.
Haines acknowledged the unexpected controversy, stating, "Something like this raises a level of sensitivity that I think is really important, and it does kind of turn your perspective on its head and I think that's what art is about."
When asked about the controversy, the restaurant owners asserted that they have no intention of removing the mural. However, the wind on Friday afternoon had other plans as the mural fell shortly after, though it is slated for re-installation soon.
Two Easton women have taken a stand against the mural, creating a petition calling for its permanent removal. One of the women, Pamela Gates shared similar concerns about the pose and the shoes Douglass is depicted wearing. Despite its recent creation, the petition has already garnered 12 signatures.
Amy Haines, in response to the controversy, remains hopeful that the mural will spark meaningful conversations. "You know my hope is that we can continue to have these raw, honest, engaged, civil, sensitive conversations," she added.
Amid the ongoing debate, Tarence Bailey reminded, "Frederick Douglass said he'd never want to be seen as kneeling like a slave."