The Statue of Liberty should be black!

I was taught as a kid that America was a place of hope, opportunity, and equality. This is symbolized by the world famous Statue of Liberty. If we were to restore the Statue of Liberty back to it’s original unexposed copper patina, in about 2-3 years it would be brown/black as it goes through it’s phases of natural oxidation. In this time of racial injustice, this should be stated and used symbolically. After it’s original shiny copper color, oxidation will take it through the cycle of shiny copper, to brown and black, to olive, and back to it’s now iconic light green, all in about 30 years. Click the link to see a visual guide.

If the Statue of Liberty was cleaned and restored, it would symbolize a new beginning for our nation, while not just simply erasing what we have learned from our past. Once it becomes brown and black, it would bring pride to not only African-Americans, but also to the country as a whole, uniting us under a well-known symbol of our country. This would tell the world we respect all, no matter color, creed, or other characteristics, are capable of true change, and are committed to practicing what we are preaching now and into the future.

This type of action is a hopeful one. There are many other more pressing and well-documented issues that must first change all over our country, as well as across the globe, that supersede this one. However there cannot be a question that a socially just and science related project like this would boost pride and promote immigration from all corners of the world. This would show our country can still be a symbol of hope and opportunity for all, while not dismissing our past faults but still promising a better future for those who seek one.