'Shadows of a Face' Discussing Newark's Harriet Tubman Monument

Harriet Tubman is known to many of us as one of the most courageous women in American history. As a conductor on the underground railroad Harriet returned to the south approximately 13 times to lead enslaved people to the freedom. 

On March 9, 2023 the Harriet Tubman monument titled "Shadows of a Face" was unveiled in Harriet Tubman Square Park downtown Newark. This interactive monument is replacing the Christopher Columbus statue that was removed in 2020.

"Shadows of a Face" is dedicated to the life and legacy of one of America's greatest abolitionists, Harriet Tubman. The monument is includes an audio component that was produced by the audiobook and podcast company, Audible and the audio was narrated by Queen Latifah. Members of the community contributed to the monument by creating personalized tiles that were added to the project's mosaic wall. 

The Harriet Tubman Monument project was led by the City of Newark's Arts and Cultural Affairs Director fayemi shakur and funded by the City of Newark, Audible, the Mellon Foundation and individual residents in collaboration with the Newark City Parks Foundation, Newark Arts, the Newark Museum of Art and the Newark Public Library. 

Mayor Ras J. Baraka and co-host/ producer Desiree Hadley discuss the monument in detail with the Artist/ Architect Nina Cooke John, Director shakur and the Founder of Audible Don Katz.

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Engineered/Produced By: Carter 'Roc' Mangan Jr.