Cash Crop

Was the name of this powerful sculpture featuring 15 concrete life-sized statues chained to a pallet representing the 15 million people who were transported as slaves from Africa to America.  Viewers could walk among the statues, stepping over the chains.  Not the proudest moment in US History.  The exhibit was created by Stephen Hayes, a native North Carolinian, African-American artist, professor and award winning creator.  

The rest of the events at the Cameron Art Museum today called Boundless and was a tribute to the United States Colored Troops, a mostly African-American group of soldiers (though other minorities were also represented) that first fought during the Civil War for the Union Army. There were reenactments and story telling, period dress and the unveiling of a sculpture dedicated to these men. 

I've put a few other photos in Extras.  Queen Cotton, same artist as above. And a different artist (not sure of the name) and a representation of the many shirts that the house maid would have ironed.