Petition of the Day: Artist Wants to Put Outkast on a Confederate Monument
Controversies over government-sponsored Confederate memorabilia have reached a fever pitch lately, culminating in the removal over the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse. There are some remembrances of the pro-slavery secessionists that will be much harder to remove.
For instance, there is this carving on Stone Mountain, Georgia, which displays Confederate leaders Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.
As a growing segment of our culture wants to (finally) shed these remnants honoring a Civil War based around slavery, growing questions persist about how to adapt these monuments.
Enter, artist Mack Williams.
He has a simply brilliant idea for how to 'adjust' that Stone Mountain carving.
Sign my petition and carve @outkast into the face of Stone Mountain. http://t.co/frlMwXFeLP pic.twitter.com/HMFMignzgA
— Mack Williams (@aewsome) July 15, 2015That's right. Williams has set up a petition on MoveOn.org to add Georgia's own Outkast to the monument, putting them right up there with former Confederate leader Jefferson Davis.
The petition explains it fully:
I believe it's important to recognize the history and heritage of all Georgians. However, the carving of Davis, Lee, and Jackson on the side of Stone Mountain only represents a small, regrettable time in the history of the Peach State. It's high time we added a bit more of our history and culture to this monument.
By no means do we wish to erase or destroy the current carving, which, regardless of its context, is an impressive and historic work of art. We simply wish to add new carvings, of Atlanta hip-hop duo Outkast, to the mountainside. There's plenty of room.
I believe that Daddy Fat Sacks and Three Stacks should be carved riding in a Cadillac (as is their wont). This will help the new carving blend nicely with the Confederates who are on horseback.
Outkast are two of the greatest Georgians in the history of our state. It's about time the Empire State of the South paid proper tribute to them, while also improving a great monument and tourist attraction.
Look at it again!
Look how happy Andre 3000 and Big Boi are to be up there
The two dope boyz in a Cadillac have remained relatively silent on the matter, although Big Boi has retweeted it a few times, which constitutes approval, right?
So, what are you waiting for? Sign that petition and let Stone Mountain more adequately represent Georgia's people.