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The Destruction of Two Cultures: Slave Ship

This assemblage, a piece integrated with related work "Mass Grave," primarily features a structure built with concrete brick, wooden board, and metal railings. Wooden boards are laid across stacks of concrete bricks so that they are lifted off the ground, staging an interactive slave ship that uses the ruins of the basement of a previous house as the ship's hold. Visitors are invited to walk across the boards as Minter demonstrates the sounds of the captain of the slave ship, gesturing to those slaves below who could hear happenings on the deck. Meanwhile, Minter says while sitting in the chair installed on the deck, the captain would "deaf their eyes to all that moaning" below. Metal railings are constructed around the raised wooden boards, wrapped throughout the structure with heavily oxidized steel chains. These chains are featured on both the front and back side of the structures railings, and have working gloves and boots interwoven with and attached to them. The metal framing of an office chair sits on top of the wooden boards. Leading off of the central focus of the piece, the metal railings established around the wooden structure continue behind the "Slave Ship," surrounding the related work "Mass Grave" that is assembled there. Along the metal railings are numerous signs representing a wide variety of themes. The most prominent sign attached to the railings is one painted on a broken piece of white metal, non-completely painted black with the label "SLAV / E SHIP USA" written in large yellow letters. Two other signs reside along the railing near this one. One of these is a red wooden sign constructed in the shape of a horseshoe, with the left board reading "NATIVE AMERIC," the right board reading "AFRICAN," and the connecting center board reading "KNOW THYSELF," all written using white paint. The other reads "GOD FREE US / THY WILL / BE DONE" and is written in faded yellow paint on a thoroughly weather wooden board. On the other side of the railing, separated from these signs by "Mass Grave," is another sign painted on a piece of white metal which is attached to the railing itself. This sign reads "GOD HEAR OUR CRY SAVE ALL OF US" with each word alternating between being written in red or black paint. The front of the "Slave Ship" is heavily adorned with various signs and items; items which include a pair of purple, teal, and pink water skiis, as well two foam wave boards, one red, one blue, but both featuring sharks. Starting from the right and moving across the front of the "Slave Ship," the first sign featured from this angle is a tall wooden sign painted white, with the the words "RIGHT to" written in black paint, and "VOTE" in red paint. Beside this is a wooden sign constructed in the shape of a cross, which reads "AFRI / CA MOTHER LAND OF" along the vertical post and "ISRAEL ETHIOPIA EGYPT" along the horizontal post. All words are written in yellow paint, and the vertical post has been painted with colors of African flags: red, black, green, and yellow. Two wooden signs are placed between the pair of water skiis, both featuring messages written in yellow paint. One of these signs, attached to the railing, reads "SLAVERY IS HOLOCAUST." The other, situated on a wooden board below, read "LOST FREEDOM / AGONY / MISERY / DEATH." The last sign attached to the piece, on the far left of the front side, is featured on a weathered piece of white metal and reads "WE WILL OVERCOME," written with black paint and red paint in the word "WE." Standing over the entirety of the piece is an American flag on a flagpole, which is damaged and torn along the edges.
Face of Jesus

Two wooden beams form a cross and intersect with two wooden beams that form an upside-down triangle and extend upward from the ground. A variety of found items are attached to the sculpture to depict Jesus's face, including a wreath of barbed wire attached to the top of the middle wooden beam from which a string of yellow chain (hair) and a circular oxidized piece of metal (face) also hang down. An oxidized chain is strung horizontally across the sculpture. Car headlights form the eyes of the sculpture's face, an old pipe makes up the nose, and a car grill below represents the mouth. In conversations on this piece, Minter refers to the sculpture's affinity with the peace sign.
The Killing of a Society: Prince

A flat, circular, silver metal plate is attached to the top of tall steel beam. Four shapes have been cut out of the metal plate in order to form a face, with two triangles cut out to represent eyes, a third triangle to represent a nose, and a semi-circle to represent a widely smiling mouth. Attached to the back of this face are several chains hanging freely down the rest of the structure. Approximately halfway down the primary steel beam, a planter hanger is attached and affixed to the planter is a small helmet. Two chain are hooked and draped across the center of the structure. Toward the base lean two smaller steel beams, resembling legs. All steel utilized in the artwork is heavily oxidized.
Hilda Grave Sign

Seven white painted panels with lettering in red and black paints. The panels are attached to a wooden base painted yellow with black polka dots. The signs read: "THANK YOU JESUS 50 of a HILDAS" [red lettering]; "IN SICKNESS / IN HEALTH / DEATH PART US" [black]; "LOVE CARE UNDERSTANING" [black]; "SHE HAD 75 YRS. SHE LOVED ALL" [red]; "MY HELPMEET LOVE ALFONZO JOE JR." [black]; "I LOVED MY HILDA SHE LOVE JOE" [black]; "HILDA CALL COME HOME JOE INTO JESUS" [black and red]. Two wooden spears extend diagonally from the second panel and are attached with green wire. These read: "King" and "Queen" painted in yellow lettering. A flower pot with red and yellow flowers sits on top of the third wooden panel on the far right.
Disaster Area: 911

An area Minter calls 911, made of multiple loosely interconnected sculptures. Prominent are two tall oxidized sheets of metal that function as doors for a passageway into the area. They are painted on one side. Painted in yellow words, one reads: "911 / AND GOD / SHALL / WIPE ALL / TEARS / FROM / THEIR / EYES / FORGIVE / US LORD / SAVE / US." Painted in yellow and faded red, the other sign reads: "911 / WORLD/ TRADE CENTER / [indiscernible] / HIJACKED / AIRPLANES / NEW YORK / [three lines indiscernible] / 3000 / [three lines indiscernible] / GOD SAVE US / WASHINGTON D.C. / F: 77 / PENNSYLVANIA / F: 99." Broken toys are scattered across the area, including plastic horses and dump trucks, alongside twisted metal and other discarded objects. In some locations, the twisted metal is topped with gloves to resemble hands reaching out. In the center of the area is a rectangle paved with uneven bricks like a patio and bordered by heaps of concrete bricks and rocks. In the center is a pillar of wood on which is nailed an ornate metal cross. The pillar is topped with concrete and the bust of the statue of liberty. At the base are a number of smaller human figurines (potentially stone), a ring of "Big Mouth Billy Bass" talking fish toys, themselves surrounded by a ring of plastic boats. There are a number of car doors in the area, including a detached "RESCUE / CALL 911" door with an orange stripe and an apparently accompanying door that says "AIRPORT." On another door is painted, in yellow "EXODUS / 14:13-14 / BE STILL KNOW / I AM GOD / LET MY PEOPLE / GO." Another sheet of metal in the area is painted "2011 NEW MEXICO / FIRES / GOD FORGIVE US / GOD SAVE US/ LOS ALAMOS / OVER 90,000 [indiscernible] / LAS CONCHAS / DATE STARTED 6/26/2022 / CAUSE - HUMAN / SIZE - 130,691 ACRES / PERSONNEL [indiscernible number] 2,557 + 63 - CREW."
Fleecing of Mother Earth

Assemblage. Six pieces of steel rebar curved into a spherical shape and wrapped with blue rope, with three yellow toy earth-movers at the base.
NY 911 - Racism Hate Sign

Painted sheet metal split in half. The first half reads: "NY / 911 / 3,000 / 2001" (in yellow with black outline). The second half of the material has a background that has been diagonally split, one half metal the other painted burgundy. This second half reads: "RACISM / HATE / USA / 1963 / 4 GIRLS / KILL / CHURCH BOMB" (in orange with black outline).
Africa Door of No Return

White door with louvers, doorknob removed. Painted red lettering covers most of the surface, reading horizontally from top to bottom on the horizontal rails: "AFRICA / DOOR - OF / NO - RETURN." On the louvers, reading: "50 / [sad face] / YRS WHY." On the vertical rails, left to right flanking top louvered panel: "SLAVERY / LOST - FREEDOM." On vertical rails, left to right flanking bottom louvered panel: "AGONY - MISERY / DEATH." Title recalls the Door of No Return, the physical and mythical doors at slave fortresses along the coast of West Africa. Both literal and commemorative, there are Doors of No Return in Gorée, Senegal, and Elmina, Ghana, as well as memorials in Benin and Nigeria. The other side of the door has painted wooden planks meant to look like prison bars that are dark grey. Written on them are letters in yellow and black paint that read "R-E-P-A-RA-TIONS / CONVICT-LEASE / SYSTEM-200-YRS / JIM / CROW / 200 / WH-Y-U.-S.-A. / S-L-A-V-ERY".
The Best Part of Jesus is When He Fed the Least of Us

Assemblage. Oxidized cast iron table upon which a variety of found objects are placed including concrete angels with accents of red and blue paint, concrete praying hands with accents of red paint, wire fish with colored jewels, and fragments of paving concrete. A wooden sign painted black with white letter rests against the base of the table and reads "MARK 8 / 5. AND HE ASKED / THEM HOW MANY / LOAVES HAVE YE AND / THEY SAID SEVEN / 6. HE SET THE PEOPLE / DOWN WITH THE 7 LOAVES/ GAVE THANKS / 7. A FEW FISHES FEED 4,000."
Disaster Area: Japan Tsunami

Three signs painted with yellow words on black material and supported by separate steal poles. The first sign is topped with a metal addition painted with: "2011 EARTHQUAKE 04" and a reflector strip painted "3/11/011." The remainder of the sign reads: "TSUNAMI / 9-0 JAPAN / DIED- / 2 NUCLEAR PLANTS / MELTDOWN AND ROD / CRY TO GOD FIRST FOR / HIS HEALING HAND GOD / LOVE ALL HIS CHILDREN / HUMAN FAMILY / COME TOGETHER LOVE PEACE." The second sign reads: "PSALM / 67 / 1 GOD BE / MERCIFUL UNTO / US AND BLESS US AND / CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE / UPON US SELAH / 2 THAT THY WAY MAY bE / KNOWN UPON EARTH / THY SAVING HEALTH / AMONG ALL /NATIONS." The third sign is topped with a metal addition painted with: "EARTHQUAKE 04" and a reflector strip painted "12 26." The remainder of the sign reads, in fading lettering: "TSUNAMI / SOUTH ASIA / DIED - AFRICA / MATTHEW 24:7 / 7 FOR NATION SHALL RISE AGAI- / NST NATION. KINGDOM AGAINST / KINGDOM AND THERE SHALL BE / FAMINE AND PESTILENCES AND / EARTHQUAKE IN PLACE/ DIVERS." On the ground below the first two signs is an arrangement of broken concrete of different sizes, on top of which are placed five vertical red bricks. Additional bricks and concrete pavers line the front of the structure. Around the third sign are piles plastic baby dolls, horses, and sharks, along with jars of shells and metal rods. A television set is part of this grouping on the back of which is painted: "GOD / FORGIVE US / WE PRAISE YOU / SAVE US / THY CHILDREN."
Disaster Area: Indian Ocean Tsunami

A black plastic board, resembling a surfboard, is attached horizontally to a wooden pole and supporting wooden fence structures. On this board is painted: "TSUNAMI - 12/26/04 / GOD FORGIVE US SAVE US / DIED AFRICA." The top of the pole is wound with chain, supporting a horizontal wooden board whose painted words are faded, as well as two aluminum crutches. A hubcap is attached to the top of one of these crutches.
Four Little Girls and Martin Luther King Jr.

Assemblage; five metal chairs sit in a row across a wooden beam. Around them on the ground are arranged circled crosses. The chairs are painted with the names of the four girls who were killed in the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham Alabama, and the name of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. From the left, the chairs are labelled "CAROLE / IN JESUS / FREE AT LAST"; "CYNTHIA / IN JESUS / FREE AT LAST"; "MARTIN JESUS"; "ADDIE MAE / IN JESUS / FREE AT LAST"; "DENISE / IN JESUS / FREE AT LAST." The chair labelled for Rev. Dr. King is centered in the row. It is white, with padded arms and a rusted seat. Around the frame in black lettering reads excerpts from the "I Have a Dream" speech. There is a black cast of a pair of praying hands on the seat of the chair. The other four chairs are rusted metal folding chairs with no arms. The chairs labelled for Carole, Cynthia, and Addie Mae have bright yellow lettering. The chair labelled for Denise is painted bright yellow and has black lettering. On each of the chairs is a face formed out of wire. The faces for the four girls are smaller, and rest on the seats of their chairs. The face for Rev. Dr. King stands over the seat, resting against the back of the chair labelled for him. On the wooden beam are four silver metal signs with black lettering, each corresponding with the appropriate chair. From the left: "Carole Robtson [sic] / Birmingham AL / 1949 - 1963"; "Cynthia Wesley / Birmingham AL / 1949 - 1963"; "Addie M. Collins / Birmingham AL / 1949 - 1963"; "Denise McNair / Birmingham AL / 1951 - 1963". The beam is supported from beneath with four wooden posts and two pillars of cinder blocks. On the right side of the beam a metal pole extends up, and is topped by a hard hat. Behind the center of the supporting beam is a wooden post with a sign reading "FATHER FORGIVE" in bright yellow paint. A rusted chain links the top of the post with the chair labelled for Rev. Dr. King. Behind the beam and chairs are three circles of grey concrete paving stones. Within each is a wood mulch ground covering, a cross of narrow, red concrete paving stones, and a circular grey paving stone on one of the arms of the cross. On the left circle there is a conch shell. In front of the beam is a singular cross and circle arrangement, also with a conch shell on the grey stones encircling the cross. In commenting on this piece, Minter emphasizes "the least of those among us will bring us where we need to go because they are the closest to God."
Jesus Street Painting

Painting on cement ground. Yellow striped spokes inside yellow circle, with "JESUS" written in the center.
Disaster Area: BP

On a large oxidized oil drum reads: "B.P. STOP / THE END / OFFSHORE DRILLING / HOW TODAY / [indiscernible] IN OUR WATER W / [indiscernible] GOD FORGIVE US / [last line indiscernible]." Attached to the drum is a long metal object that resembles the neck of a crane. The assemblage is topped with three gasoline nozzles (blue, red, and silver), a toy helicopter, several rubber ducks, a concrete turtle, a jar of sand, and a scuba fin. The base is surrounded by a blue fishing net filled with several "Big Mouth Billy Bass" toys, multiple smaller oxidized oil canisters, and three black plastic propeller blades that read "OIL / SPILL / 2020" "NO / FISHING," and "DEEP WATER / HORIZON." Across from the drum is a white door that Minter identifies as part of the assemblage. From the top of the door hangs a tangle of wire that ensnares a boot, several baby dolls, two telephones, and a metal pail.
Hilda

A memorial to Minter's late wife and a welcoming totem to visitors, alternating red and yellow wooden letters stacked vertically spell out the word "Hilda." The letters are attached to a supporting wooden board. Four brown and yellow polka-dot wooden boards extend diagonally from the tall wooden base, representing hands and feet. The top of the sculpture is affixed with a metal "crown," affixed by a chain, for the "sweetest matriarch that has ever been born." Several found objects decorate the sculpture including a purse, hat, and gloves.
Birmingham Jail

The central piece of this assemblage comes in the form of a large cage structure with a pair of heavy metal doors attached to the front; the left door closed, and the right door open. Atop the cage doors is an attached wooden structure built in the shape of three crosses, with one wooden cross over the left corner, one over the right corner, and one in the center, built on top of the horizontal wooden board bridging the corner crosses. The wooden crosses are are draped with barbed wire, which is also stretched across the top of the cage in an interlacing pattern. Beneath the center wooden cross is a heavily oxidized metal sign. It is clear that this sign has been written on with yellow paint, however it has become largely unreadable due to weathering. Words and phrases like "GOD IS THE WAY," "BILLY CLUBS," "1963," and "WE PUT OUR LIFE" are visible. Diagonally attached on top of this weathered metal sign is another sign made of a white piece of wood, which has "MLK LETTER FORM / BIRMINGHAM JAIL / 1963" written on it in black paint. Beneath these two signs, the top horizontal bar of the cage reads "BIRMINGHAM FORGOTTEN FOOT SOLDIER WE SHALL OVERCOME" in yellow fading paint. The metal doors of the cage are also written on using yellow paint. The closed left door reads as follows: " GOD LOVE YOU / POLICE COMMISSIONER EUGENE / BULL CONNOR ORDERED HIS POL- / ICE OFFICERS TO USE FORCE ON / NON-VIOLENCE AFRICAN SCHOOL / CHILDREN CLERGY AND COMMUNITY / 12 AFRICAN CHURCHES HAD MASS / MEETINGS WEEKLY MAY 6 1963 MORE / THAN 8,000 AFRICAN PEOPLE ASSEM- / BLE 16TH ST BAPTIST CHURCH FOR MASS / DEMONSTRATIONS AFRICAN CHILDREN / FROM ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL AND / COLLEGE IN KELLY-INGRAM PARK / TO PUT OUR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR / FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS WITH / GOD ON OUR SIDE / TO LEAD US ALL THE WAY / REV FRED SHUTTLESWORTH / REV DR MARTIN LUTHER KING / REV RALPH ABERNATHY / REV GARDNER / REV N.H. SMITH (FIRE BALL) / REV PHIEFER / REV COOPER / REV CALVIN WOOD-A WOOD / REV JESSEE DOUGLAS / REV ALFORD / REV ERSKINE FAULSH / DR CARLTON REESE / COLONEL JOHNSON (BUCK) / LILLY BROWN." The open right door reads as follows: "AN'T GONE LET NOBODY / TURN ME AROUND / JAMES BEVEL J ARMSTRONG / JAMES ORANGE G PRICE / LUCINDER ROBEY / TOMMY WRENN / JUDGE U.W. CLEMONS / QUINTIN MITHELL / PATTON / ATTY ARTHUR SHORES / ATTY OSCAR ADAMS / ATTY BAKER / TEATHER VERA BROWN / MEATBALL AND SUNSHINE / POOLE FUNERAL AGGASTON MOTEL / AFRICAN HIGH SCHOOLS 1963 / ULLMAN GEORGE C BELL / PARKER ROBERT C JOHNSON / CARVER GOODSON / WESTERN JACKSON / HOOPER CITY HAYES / ROSEDALE J.S. ABRAMS / AFRICAN COLLEGE 1963 / PAUL DULLEY WHITE (TALL PAUL) / SHELLY STEWART (PLAYBOY) / REV ERSKINE FAULSH / JOHNNY MCCLURE (JOHNNY JIVE) / WILLIE MCKINSTRY / JESSEE CHAMPION / JAMES LAY / WILLIE KELLEY JONES / ODIS BARNES / DAVID LEE JONES / GEORGE EUGENE / TIMOTHY." The right door is propped open with a working boot. Beside the open metal door on the right, a figure is constructed using metal rods, with one tall rod in the center and two smaller rods supporting it by leaning against the center rod diagonally. A metal plate is attached to the top of the rod, wearing a yellow hard hat helmet with the letters "BPD" in black paint written on it. The metal figure is adorned with working gloves, a mask of Marvel's "The Hulk," and a toy gun. A rope is tied to the end of the figure, which is tied on the other end to a stone dog guarding the cage's doors. Wrapped around the figure twice is a portion of a long fireman's hose, with faded painted words like "1963 BIRMINGHAM, AL POLICE" and "JESUS." The hose extends some distance to a wooden structure constructed of three tall wooden poles leaned against one another, with messages such as "COME TO JESUS" and "OVERCOME" written with white paint on a pole painted red, green, and yellow. A wooden triangle is nailed to the top of the structure with a small statue of an eagle positioned on it. The leftmost of the three wooden poles is taller than the other two, and has a wooden triangle nailed to it as well, pointing upward. Beneath this wooden structure is a collection of children's toys, including a bicycle and characters from the children's show Sesame Street as well as a round metal object painted with "PROVERBS 22 / 6 TRAIN UP A / CHILD IN THE / WAY HE SHOULD GO / AND WHEN HE IS / OLD HE WILL NOT / DEPART / FROM / IT." The rest of the yard space in front of the cage features a variety of items, including six dog statues in total, children's toys such as toy trucks and rocking horses, worker's hard hats, fire hydrants, and stones. A wooden bench also sits facing the cage, with four pairs of shoes lines up across the bench's seat. Inside of the cage is a black wooden figure, that has been painted with white stripes to appear to be dressed as a prisoner. The figure is wrapped in a steel chain with a lock on it, which encompasses the figures wrists, knees, and shoulders. An old white toilet is set to the left of the figure, with faded writing on the tank. A broken sink rests in the far right corner of the cage. Two separated metal bed headboards stand on either side of the cage. Along the cage's walls are masks of characters such as DC Comic's Batman, Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Darth Vader from Star Wars. A base of concrete bricks supports the structure of the cage. Around the cage's perimeter working gloves and boots are chained to the bar.
The Killing of a Society: King

Several steel rods are assembled into a tall structure. The rod at the top of the structure is bent, creating a circular hook. Thin metal plates are attached to the rod using hooks and springs, linked in a chain. Just over halfway down the sculpture is horizontally intersected by another steel rod. The central structure then separates into three supporting rods. All metal pieces utilized in the artwork are heavily oxidized.
Two Zulu Warriors

Two sculptural pieces are attached to a base with eight legs. The two sculptures are similar in construction, with each made up of a large machine from which a circular piece of metal extends. Within these circles are smaller circles reminiscent of eyes and in between the eyes is a spring resembling a nose. On the top of the two larger circles is a metal bar with a twisted piece of metal attached. Heavy oxidation throughout. A tangle of branches emerge from the metal machinery and wrap around the middle base pole. Two medical crutches are propped against the sculpture. These sculptures are described by Minter as "protecting" the African Matriarch sculpture.
The Destruction of Two Cultures: Mass Grave

This assemblage, a piece integrated with related work "Slave Ship," primarily features an area of the yard of Joe Minter's "African Village in America" dedicated to containing a conglomerate of items, scrap metals, and stones. The assemblage is enclosed within the metal railings of "Slave Ship," which features a variety of signs attached. Beneath a sign on white metal which reads "GOD HEAR OUR CRY SAVE ALL OF US" lies numerous golf clubs, some of which are rested on wooden chunks and poles, and some of which are attached to the railings by steel chains. A cross formed from red bricks is arranged on the ground in front of the sign and golf clubs. Moving inward to the central focus of the artwork, a multitude of objects are piled inside up inside of the railings, including the following: broken pieces of metal of varying oxidization levels, broken chunks of stones, metal containers and lids, broken pieces of shovels, piping, working gloves, boots, black tarps, rusted metal rods, metal springs, tree branches, chunks of wood, and a children's toy rocking horse. Steel chains are interwoven among the items throughout the pile of objects, particularly in the center of the pile strung over the rusted metal rods. On the left side of the piece, around the perimeter of the pile, there is a sign that has been created on a flat piece of metal in black paint. This sign reads "SLAVERY / LOST FREEDOM / AGONY / DEATH / GOD DELIVER US FROM THIS MISERY." In the center of the pile of the of objects, a flag pole stands with a damaged, torn American flag attached to it, flying over both "Mass Grave" and "Slave Ship."
Matthew Sign 10:16

White door with red lettering and black outline. Select words have additional yellow filling with black polka dots. The text reads: "MATT 10:16 / 16 BEHOLD / I SEND YOU / FORTH AS / SHEEP / IN THE MIDST / OF WOLVES: / BE YE THEREFORE / WISE AS SERPENTS / AND HARMLESS AS / DOVES / IN JESUS."
Evel Knievel

Assemblage in the shape of a person riding a motorcycle. Constructed from found objects including motorcycle helmet, wheels, metal, and dryer exhaust tubing. The metal frame of the 'motorcycle' is oxidized to an even brown patina, except for the horizontal bar connecting the wheels. According to Minter, "He jump across a canyon somewhere. So that goes back to about 1990 coming on into 2000. Evel Kneivel."
African Have Human Rights

Sign on rectangular plywood, painted red. Black lettering outlined with yellow reads: "AFRICAN HAVE / HUMAN RIGHtS ? / NOt IN U.S.A. NO / WE HAVE RACISM / LOSt FREEDOM AGONY / DEAtH."
African Labor in the United States

Complex assemblage that primarily revolves around a tall oxidized pole with two horizontal arms, mounted so it swivels from its base. Down the pole is painted "AFRICAN" and across an attached metal beam is painted "LABOR IN USA." Attached to the top arm are three crutches. Attached to the second arm are chains interwoven with multiple oxidized laboring implements including a metal iron, a white hard hat, and coal mining tools. A grated iron board is propped against the primary pole, from which rests additional tools of the trade including a shovel, an additional ironing board (one for a mother and one for a daughter), a metal pail, a lunch box, a sewing machine, and a hoe. When describing the sculpture, Minter calls attention to the memory of the black labor handling these tools, feeling their spirit and their exploitation.
Children and Jesus in Harmony

Assemblage. A central terracotta grouping of seven figures arranged in an inward facing circle inside a metal chandelier lighting fixture with twelve sockets, resting on an iron garden table. Near the central terracotta figures is a white ceramic angel. On top of the chandelier is an off-white circular cast, possibly a candle holder, with outward facing children. At the center top is a brass elephant with raised trunk, fastened with wire.
African Inventions in America and Africans in Science and Medicine

Assemblage. Large sheet of metal with white painted writing. Medical crutch attached to the top of metal sign, with a fragment of silver metal attached to the base of the crutch. On the recto, "African Inventions in America," numerous names, dates, and inventions are listed. The sign reads: "AFRICAN INVENTIONS / IN / AMERICA / THIS LIST IS JUST A FEW / 195 PATENTS / GRANTED / BETWEEN / 1871-1899 / OVER / 1,000 / PATENTS / BY 1913 / A.J. BEARD - JENNY COUPIER [sic] 1897 / ROTARY ENGINE 1892 / G.T. WOODS 150 INVENTION STEAM BOILER FURNACE 1884 / ELECTRIRAILWAY 1901 / TELEGRAPHY 1887 / R.B.S. PIKES AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT 1932 / TRANSMISSION SHIFT 1933 / MULTIPLE BARREL MACHINE GUN 1940 / J. MATZELIGER AUTOMATIC SHOE LAST MACHINE 1891 / F.M. JONES AIR CONDITION UNIT / 2-CYCLE 1950, REFRIGERATED TRUCK 1949 / GAS ENG / BOX CAR 1957." Bottom four lines of text are unreadable. On the verso, "Africans in Science and Medicine," Joe Minter documents Vivian Sammons research in the Library of Congress. The sign highlights selections from the book, reading: "BOOK / BY / VIVIAN / SAMMONS / AFRICANS IN / SCIENCE & MEDICINE / MORE THAN 1,500 /AFRICAN contribution / CESAR (SLAVE MED. PrATITIONER CURE / RATTLE SNAKE / BITE 1700 / C.R. DREW PHYS SUG FON BLOOD BANK 1904 / 1950 / B.O. DAVIS SR FRIST AFRICAN GEN ARMY 1877-1970 / B.O. DAVIS JR WEST POINT AIR FORCE 1912 / 1856-1940 / E.J. BULLARD AVIATOR 189-1961 / G.W. CARVER AGRICOLUTRIST 1864-1943 / B. BANNEKER SURVEYOR 1731-1806 / W.A. RAYFIEIL [sic] ARCHITECT / R. ARRINGTON JR. ZOOLOGIST 1934 / BLUFORD G.S. Jr. ASTRONAUTS /BOldEN C.S., GREGORY F.d., LAWrENCE R.H. JR. / DWIGHT E. J., JEMISON M.C., MCNAIR R.E."