The Real Tea On Lady Liberty - She's That Girl

When most people think of the Statue of Liberty, they picture a towering symbol of freedom and opportunity. But few know the full truth behind Lady Liberty, and once you do it is hard to unsee.

Let’s start at her feet. Yes, her feet. Look closely and you will find broken shackles and chains.

That’s not a random artistic flourish, that is a direct reference to the abolition of slavery. The statue’s original concept, created by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, was to honor the end of slavery in the United States. Those shackles represent the breaking of bondage. It’s no coincidence that the statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, which is eerily close to the anniversary of the 1865 abolition of slavery in America.

But there is even more. Rumor and compelling speculation suggest that Lady Liberty’s face was modeled after a Black or Egyptian woman. Bartholdi, inspired by his travels to Egypt and the grandeur of ancient African monuments, originally proposed a colossal female figure of the Suez Canal. That idea was rejected, but later evolved into the Statue of Liberty as we know today. Many believe the remnants of the African-inspired vision remains etched in Lady Liberty’s features.

Author, educator, speaker and consultant Dr. Joy DeGruy, best known for her ground breaking book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, has spoken extensively about the statue’s hidden history. According to Dr. DeGruy, the statue was meant to recognize the end of slavery not just to welcome immigrants. She even took action reaching out to the officials at the Statue of Liberty to push for historical acknowledgment and correction. Her efforts brought awareness to the overlooked symbolism, especially the shackles at her feet and the need to reframe how we teach this monument’s meaning.

It’s time we stop erasing the parts of history that make people uncomfortable. The truth about Lady Liberty is more powerful than the myth. Let’s tell it right.