Monument

The Blank Slate Monument

There are ‘problematic narratives’ that do not do justice to the African American experience of the confederate wars in America.

The Blank Slate Monument aims to change that narrative.

Kwame’s Approach

  • Interrogating the non-inclusive commemoration of events surrounding the Civil War
  • Make the monument serve as the very vehicle for nonviolent protest of confederate memorials and spaces which are insensitive to the African American experience and contributions
  • Contribute to dialogues, especially amongst American citizens whether black, white or any other race
  • Allow monument to serve as an intervention to white supremacy spaces and/or un-commemorated spaces associated with African American heroism, suffering and contribution to nation building

A  r  t  i  s  t     S  t  a  t  e  m  e  n   t

The Placard

The placard is not just a symbol but it is literally the voice of the people. I left it blank because a monumental few words from one artist will not be enough to express the thoughts and emotions of millions of people. An artist has no right to play with idealistic symbolism and think that every thing will be ok. It is blank because I hope participants will fill it with their own words and emotions.

The blank slate, however does not stand in a vacuum. The placard and various words, hashtags, opinions come from the the freedom tradition that was created ever since enslaved Africans set foot in the United States of America and the world away from wherever they called home. A tradition expressed through hunger strikes, acts of defiance and civil rights movements. It is my belief that when participants write down their thoughts on the placards, a palimpsest of the freedom tradition shines through and that is when the heroes of America are revealed.

– Kwame Akoto-Bamfo

Connect with us

Blank Slate Tour

Current: Galveston, TX

April 5th – July 5th, 2023 ––– Rosenberg Library

Houston, TX

March 4, 2023 – April 4, 2023 ––– Rice University

Selma, AL

Nov. 21st, 2022 ––– Foot of Edmund Pettus Bridge

Oct. 16th, 2022 ––– ArtsRevive Cultural Center 

Montgomery, AL

Sept. 8th – Oct. 16th, 2022 ––– Mothers of Gynecology

June 18th, 2022 ––– Juneteenth at Rosa Parks Museum

April 12th – July 5th, 2022 ––– The Civil Rights Memorial Center, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center

Atlanta, GA

Aug. 27 – Sept. 4th, 2021 ––– Martin Luther King Center

Charlotte, NC

July 1, 2021 ––– The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture

Washington, DC

June 29, 2021 ––– We Act Radio

Harlem, NY

June 26, 2021 ––– African Chop House

New York, NY

June 25, 2021 ––– Times Square

Brooklyn, NY

June 24, 2021 ––– Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Pittsburgh, PA

June 20 – 22, 2021 ––– August Wilson African American Cultural Center

Chicago, IL

June 17 – 20, 2021 ––– Dusable Museum

Detroit, MI

June 15 – 16, 2021 ––– Motown Museum

Princeton, IN

June 11 – 12, 2021 ––– Lyles Station Historic Museum

Blank Slate Virtual Town Hall

June 3, 2021 ––– Blank Slate Youtube

Louisville, KY

June 1 – 7, 2021 ––– Kentucky African American Heritage Center

June 8 – 9, 2021 ––– Injustice Square Park

Monument

The
Blank Slate Monument

There are ‘problematic narratives’ that do not do justice to the African American experience of the confederate wars in America.

The Blank Slate Monument aims to change that narrative.

Kwame’s Approach

  • Interrogating the non-inclusive commemoration of events surrounding the Civil War
  • Make the monument serve as the very vehicle for nonviolent protest of confederate memorials and spaces which are insensitive to the African American experience and contributions
  • Contribute to dialogues, especially amongst American citizens whether black, white or any other race
  • Allow monument to serve as an intervention to white supremacy spaces and/or un-commemorated spaces associated with African American heroism, suffering and contribution to nation building

A  r  t  i  s  t     S  t  a  t  e  m  e  n   t

The Placard

The placard is not just a symbol but it is literally the voice of the people. I left it blank because a monumental few words from one artist will not be enough to express the thoughts and emotions of millions of people. An artist has no right to play with idealistic symbolism and think that every thing will be ok. It is blank because I hope participants will fill it with their own words and emotions.

The blank slate, however does not stand in a vacuum. The placard and various words, hashtags, opinions come from the the freedom tradition that was created ever since enslaved Africans set foot in the United States of America and the world away from wherever they called home. A tradition expressed through hunger strikes, acts of defiance and civil rights movements. It is my belief that when participants write down their thoughts on the placards, a palimpsest of the freedom tradition shines through and that is when the heroes of America are revealed.

– Kwame Akoto-Bamfo

Blank Slate Tour

Upcoming: Galveston, TX

April 5th – July 5th, 2023 ––– Rosenberg Library

Current: Houston, TX

March 4, 2023 – April 4, 2023 ––– Rice University

Selma, AL

November 21st, 2022 ––– Foot of Edmund Pettus Bridge

October 16th, 2022 ––– ArtsRevive Cultural Center (Current)

Montgomery, AL

September 8th – October 16th, 2022 ––– Mothers of Gynecology

June 18th, 2022 ––– Juneteenth at Rosa Parks Museum

April 12th – July 5th, 2022 ––– The Civil Rights Memorial Center, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center

Atlanta, GA

August 27 – September 4th, 2021 ––– Martin Luther King Center

Charlotte, NC

July 1, 2021 ––– The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture

Washington, DC

June 29, 2021 ––– We Act Radio

Harlem, NY

June 26, 2021 ––– African Chop House

New York, NY

June 25, 2021 ––– Times Square

Brooklyn, NY

June 24, 2021 ––– Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Pittsburgh, PA

June 20 – 22, 2021 ––– August Wilson African American Cultural Center

Chicago, IL

June 17 – 20, 2021 ––– Dusable Museum

Detroit, MI

June 15 – 16, 2021 ––– Motown Museum

Princeton, IN

June 11 – 12, 2021 ––– Lyles Station Historic Museum

Blank Slate Virtual Town Hall

June 3, 2021 ––– Blank Slate Youtube

Louisville, KY

June 1 – 7, 2021 ––– Kentucky African American Heritage Center

June 8 – 9, 2021 ––– Injustice Square Park

Connect with us