by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 29, 2024

Tricia Rose Deconstructs ‘Metaracism’ And Implores Us To Break Free

Rose spoke to BE's Director of Digital Content, Ida Harris, on what lead her to create her latest book.

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Acclaimed sociologist and author Dr. Tricia Rose spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE on her latest work, Metaracism: How Systemic Devastates Black Lives–and How We Break Free, published on March 5. Dr. Rose attended BE‘s prestigious 2024 Women of Power Summit in Las Vegas, held at the Bellagio Hotel. To celebrate the award-winning author’s release, a book signing, sponsored by Walmart, took place onsite. As part of the festivities, artist Uzo Njoku engaged with attendees on paint-by-number activation and gateway custom bookmarks to use with signed copies of Metaracism.

Rose conversed with BE’s Director of Digital Content, Ida Harris, about the title of her newest book, its meaning, and the impact she hopes to make.

“There’s a long history of Black people really trying to explain, very politely most of the time, that they are experiencing things that are very specific. They aren’t just discrimination or class discrimination but anti-Black policy and practice. Metaracism is really a book about systemic racism; that’s the first and most important thing,” said Rose.

Rose started researching her book without the initial intention of writing one. As director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University, her students’ general belief that racism was over led Rose down a journey of investigation and discovery of the innate ways discrimination works.

“As I did more research, I realized that systems and systemic racism isn’t just a word for society. It’s a word for a way of understanding how things interconnect,” stated Rose.

“When it’s a system that generates racism, the interconnections work to create effects that are greater than the individual parts. Meta means a greater impact than the sum of the parts…and the longer it happens, the more powerful it is. That’s why it’s not structural…We’re dealing with a level of impact that we don’t even fully understand.”

These interconnections such as education and the criminal justice system, as Rose explained, worked to create the school-to-prison pipeline that has threatened the futures of Black students. In response to Harris’ inquiry on how social determinants play a role in this system, Rose broke down how health and political leaders minimized racism’s role in issues that disproportionately impact Black communities.

“This kind of unfortunate framework is the myth-making, happening with Trayvon [Martin] and others, that hides what is a very clear sense of policies and practices interconnecting over time to have a compound effect on health, education, policy…all of that is deeply interconnected to create social determinants,” explained Rose.

Her book focuses on the post-Civil Rights era, wanting to tackle the idea that racism dissolved following Dr. King’s activism. By dissecting how systemic racism has continued into the present day, Rose dismantled the narrative that suggests a support of equity, as it actually denies the current experience of Black Americans.

Metaracism also unpacks the surface-level factors involved in police brutality cases like Eric Garner’s. Rose hopes to provide further insight into how addressing systemic racism aids in fully understanding these stories.

“Tell Eric Garner’s story, but you are not going to do him right unless you connect that story to what he’s really dealing with. And that connects him to everybody else in his community,” detailed Rose.

“You lose sight of how Garner’s life and behavior of the police are part of a much broader, more impactful system. Even if he didn’t get horribly murdered that day, which was terrible, something else was more likely to happen to him…A huge risk that was generated by social policy and practices interconnected over time to have meta-effects.”

Like her previous books, such as The Hip Hop Wars and Black Noise, Rose continues her dissection of the Black American experience in an accessible, yet thought-provoking format. Metaracism is available now for purchase.

RELATED CONTENT: Tricia Rose Unpacks ‘Metaracism’ In Exploration Of Systemic Racism’s Effects

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 29, 2024

Al Roker Inducted Into Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall Of Fame

Roker found community while a member of the Brownsville Boys Club during his childhood.

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The Boys & Girls Club of America inducted Al Roker into its Alumni Hall of Fame.

Roker was officially honored at the club’s commemorative event in Atlanta on May 16. The longtime media personality, a native of New York City, found community at Brownsville Boys Club in Brooklyn. Moreover, he spoke of how the experience helped him gain “a sense of confidence” during his childhood.

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“Well, you know, what was great, it was kind of like your first experience, almost in a way,” Roker said. “Stepping out of your comfort zone, stepping out of your neighborhood, going to a place where you’re going to meet kids from other areas within your community, and it gave you a sense of independence, a sense of confidence, and it was really in a way stepping out for the first time.”

Eight others joined Roker in the Hall of Fame, including Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala, and Damar Hamlin. Roker also admired his fellow alum’s work in their community and careers.

He added, “I don’t quite understand why. These are real names. But, it’s just an honor because The Boys and Girls Clubs have done so much, and especially in our current times, anything that fosters a sense of community is so important.”

Roker recently battled health issues that prompted him to take a medical leave from his role at the “Today” show. His return to broadcast news inspires current club members and reminds them to keep fighting for their lives despite obstacles. For Roker, who intends to cover the upcoming Paris Olympics, trying one’s best is a key to progress.

“Yeah, I feel really good. I mean, look, what I’ve come away from with this is that I think something is better than nothing,” Roker said. “You don’t have to be a world-class athlete. You just have to be in your best class. And that’s what I try to do.”

• Health and Wellness

by Daniel Johnson

May 28, 2024

American Clergy Among The Most Burdened Workers In The Country

Some of this exertion is due to the demands of the pandemic, while some of it is a paradox of caring for parishioners while clergy feel as though they cannot take advantage of mental health services themselves

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A new study from the Duke Divinity School’s Clergy Health Initiative indicates that American clergy are among the most overworked workers in the country. Some of this exertion is due to the demands of the pandemic, while some of it is a paradox of caring for parishioners while feeling as though they cannot take advantage of mental health services themselves. 

In 2023, the Hartford Institute for Religion Research conducted a study examining the factors that led clergy to become discontent with their occupations. The study notes that the further from the Covid-19 pandemic you move, the more clergy are willing to admit that they are thinking about either an alternative to their vocation or congregation. 

As USA Today reported, the pandemic is not the only thing that has led some clergy to feel like there is a heavy weight on their shoulders, in addition to the weight that comes with being a minister. Roland Stringfellow, the senior pastor of Ferndale, Michigan’s Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit, told the outlet that the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor weighed heavily on him. 

“So many congregations have not recovered from that period of time. How do you deal with those and care for a congregation?” said Stringfellow. “How can you be there when everyone is afraid – and you have those same emotions?”

Adrian Crawford, the lead pastor at Tallahassee, Florida’s Engage Church, described other factors to the outlet that led ministers to feel burnt out. 

“Pastors were left with more work and limited resources,” Crawford said. “You had people really hurting, and a lot of pastors didn’t realize what was going on inside of themselves. Their wives and children were going through the same struggles, so the pastor was leading the people but also trying to be there for his family. Those emotions have got to go somewhere.”

The Hartford study also notes that clergy who are part of a team are less likely to think about exiting the ministry completely, “Additionally, clergy who are solo pastors are much more likely to have increased thoughts of exiting the ministry as compared to clergy who are part of a ministry team (co-leaders or a senior leader with associates). Being a part of a staff of ministers usually implies employment in a larger church. Indeed, size is strongly correlated with ministerial discontent.” 

The study continued, “The larger the church, the fewer thoughts of leaving the pastoral ministry one has. Therefore, a pastor is less likely to consider leaving the ministry in a larger congregation – a position possibly with a better salary, a built-in network of relationships, a distributed workload, and the support of additional staff.”

Tracey Karcher, a former Methodist pastor, now the proprietor of a general store in Sand Springs, Montana, told USA Today that some of the anxieties of clergy are rooted in a desire not to alienate their congregations. Karcher said that these tensions are most acutely felt in rural areas. “Toxic and biased congregations are the rule these days, especially in more rural communities,” Karcher said. “Incoming pastors and ministers need to be equipped to handle these challenges, and they need the support of their higher-ups and supervisors.”

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

May 28, 2024

Miss Universe Philippines Crowns Chelsea Manalo As First Black Queen

Chelsea Manalo will bear the Philippines' banner at the Miss Universe pageant scheduled for September in Mexico.

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Chelsea Manalo etched her name into history on May 22 when she became the first Black woman crowned Miss Universe Philippines.

Representing the Bulacan province, north of Manila, the Filipino American reigned victorious over 52 contestants. CNN reported that Manalo’s groundbreaking win sparks a larger conversation about broadening beauty standards in the Philippines after years of conforming to Western ideals.

Manalo used the Miss Universe platform to shed light on her own experiences. In a YouTube video aired by Empire Philippines, the pageant queen, who began her modeling career at 14 years old, described her life as being like a “rollercoaster ride.” In the “HER STORY” segment, she shared how she grew up being bullied because of her skin and hair type. “My self-confidence became poor, and I started to become indifferent.” However, Manalo credited her support system for helping her “understand her individuality” and making her realize that her beauty is extraordinary.

Gazing into a mirror, Manalo spoke affirmations, declaring herself a woman who embraces herself and knows her worth. The production company highlighted Manalo’s advocacy for youth empowerment with a focus on children’s education, especially among Indigenous communities.

As the victorious representative, the print, ramp, and commercial model will bear the Philippines’ banner at the Miss Universe pageant scheduled for September in Mexico. CNN noted that her mission is to etch the nation’s name as a five-time crown holder, following the trailblazing footsteps of Gloria Diaz, who captured the prestigious title in 1969.

This year’s Miss Universe spectacle will witness a landmark shift, as over 100 countries grace the stage without any age caps imposed on the contestants, abolishing the previous 18-28 requirement. However, the organization has recently found itself under intense scrutiny amid the resignations of the reigning Miss USA and Miss Teen USA titleholders, who cited allegations of mismanagement, an unsettling toxic workplace culture, and conditions that detrimentally impacted their mental well-being.

Watch the live recording of Miss Universe Philippines 2024, here.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 28, 2024

Judge Revokes Bail For ‘Bling Bishop’ Lamor Whitehead Ahead Of July Sentencing 

Prosecutors moved for immediate action, citing that Whitehead has yet to take accountability for his actions.

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A federal judge revoked bail for Lamor Whitehead, also known as the “Bling Bishop,” sending him to federal jail before his sentencing scheduled for July 2024. 

Manhattan Federal Judge Lorna Schofield rescinded Whitehead’s bail on May 19, keeping him in the custody of the United States Marshal. In a memo dated May 14 to Schofield, according to Patch, prosecutors argued that Whitehead’s attempted extortion was a “crime of violence” and “this is, in sum, a mandatory detention case.” Schofield agreed. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adam’s self-proclaimed mentee was convicted in early 2024 of multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, attempted extortion, and issuing false statements to law enforcement. The pastor of Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Canarsie, Brooklyn, was found guilty of defrauding $90,000 from the mother of one of his congregation members. 

Prosecutors say Whitehead scammed Pauline Anderson to invest her retirement money into a house that she assumed he would buy and renovate for her. Instead, Whitehead purchased luxury clothing and a BMW. He also attempted to extort money from a Bronx body shop owner — for $500,000 — and, in return, promised favors from Mayor Adams. 

Because of Whitehead’s actions and subsequent behavior, prosecutors labeled him a  “significant risk to the community,” citing recent threats against Anderson and her son on social media, accusing them of being FBI informants. They also allege Whitehead violated a restraining order by showcasing sealed documents during a Patreon livestream. 

Whitehead’s defense attorney, Dawn Florio, says she plans on appealing the judge’s decision. “While we respect the court’s authority, we firmly believe in Bishop Whitehead’s innocence and are committed to pursuing justice on his behalf,” Florio said. “Bishop Whitehead plans to appeal the verdict and will continue to fight for the truth. We have full faith in the legal process and are confident that justice will ultimately prevail.”

Despite being out on bond, the pastor’s bail was revoked after he allegedly continued to make false accusations against prosecutors, the FBI, and his alleged victims. Prosecutors moved for immediate action, citing that Whitehead has yet to take accountability for his actions.

Facing up to 85 years in prison, the bishop pleaded with Schofield and expressed concerns about his family’s well-being in a letter to the jury. “It would be devastating to take me away from my two 16-year-old children, my nine-year-old daughter, and my two-year-old baby girl.”

• Food

by Daniel Johnson

May 28, 2024

Decreased Crawfish Harvest Could Foreshadow Grim Future

According to the Louisiana State Agricultural Center, a drought in 2023 has affected the crawfish haul, and a future drought could have a disastrous effect on the state’s and by extension, the nation’s crawfish industry.

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The higher prices consumers have paid during the 2023-2024 crawfish season may become a normal occurrence over the next few years as the crawfish shortage in Louisiana, where the majority of America’s “mud-bugs” are sourced, continues to rage on. 

As Fox 5 reported, although the United States Department of Agriculture approved emergency funding for crawfish farmers and fishermen, that funding will not be enough to alleviate the 50-90% shortage across the State of Louisiana. 

According to the Louisiana State Agricultural Center, a drought in 2023 has affected the crawfish haul, and a future drought could have a disastrous effect on the state and, by extension, the nation’s crawfish industry. 

“Louisiana’s crawfish aquaculture industry will experience impacts from the 2023 drought for several seasons before an economic recovery is complete,” the Agricultural Center’s Greg Lutz wrote on TheFishSite.com. “Should drought conditions return before that takes place, the industry will be drastically transformed from the one we have come to know.”

In January, farmers and fishermen were concerned about this year’s harvest, as Josh Trahan, a fifth-generation crawfish farmer, told PBS Newshour. “We just don’t have enough water. Normally, at this time, I’m doing fairly well. I’d be catching at least half a pound to the trap. With 3,000 traps, I can’t catch five pounds. Normally, I’d be pulling 50 to 60 sacks out a day. I mean, there’s nothing.” Trahan said. “We got a lot of things going against us right now. You don’t know what to plan for. For my farm, if I don’t catch any crawfish at all this year, I don’t know what my future is for next year. It’s that big. It’s that detrimental.”

LSU’s AgCenter warned as far back as August 2023 that the drought conditions presented a worrisome prognosis for crawfish production. In a report, they warned, “Expectations of reductions in both the number and size of crawfish harvested would result in lower revenue while increased irrigation demands have and will continue to result in higher production costs.”

Avery Davidson, a communications director for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, told Newshour in January that improved disaster response was critical to ensuring the survival of the crawfish industry in Louisiana. “What would help most to get them through a tough year is having a good year,” Davidson said. “But beyond that, improving disaster programs would go a long way because some farmers are concerned that they’re not going to make it to the next year.”

Another wrinkle in the crawfish shortage has been the emergence of Asian producers of crawfish, which Food & Wine reported are not held to the same safety standards as American crawfish. Those crawfish, they report, are being marketed as Louisiana crawfish and also serve to undercut local producers because they can sell their crawfish for cheaper.  

Christopher Bonvillain, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, who specializes in crawfish at Nicholls State University, told the outlet that the quick fix of farmers pumping water into fields containing crawfish burrows is insufficient. That solution, Bonvillian warned, can also be deadly to the crawfish. In addition, he worried that the increasing climate issues are a harbinger of the new normal of crawfish production. “Climate issues are becoming more common, not less,” Bonvillain said. “Some people think farmers can just manually add water to help the crawfish survive, but that’s expensive, and, also droughts result in higher salinity in much of the state’s water. That will kill the crawfish, too.”

Restaurateurs, like Jason Seither, who owns Seither’s Seafood in Harahan, Louisiana, hope that the industry can find a solution before their way of life and their local traditions, end. “Crawfish aren’t just essential to my restaurant; they’re central to our culture here in south Louisiana,” Seither explained. “And when crawfish prices get as high as they got this season, it threatens an entire way of life.”

Seither continued, “In Louisiana, food is how we gather and how we celebrate. When I was a little kid, my dad and my uncle would host family and neighbors for these big Friday night crawfish boils,” he said. “I watched them build community and make people happy through food. That’s why I wanted to own a restaurant…We have grandparents and grandkids all at the same table, listening to live local music and peeling their crawfish. It’s our tradition down here.”

• History

by Daniel Johnson

May 28, 2024

Memphis’s Black Cemeteries Are In Disrepair, But There Is A Path Forward

The path of Olivewood charts a potential course for Hollywood Cemetery and the other Black cemeteries of Memphis to take, but it will take community involvement as well as applied pressure and vigilance

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In 2021, the City of Memphis promised to clean up its blighted cemeteries following an investigative report from WREG that indicated the Hollywood cemetery, a historically Black cemetery, was among several in dire need of upkeep. However, a new report suggests that the city has not lived up to that promise and has left Memphis’s Black community holding the bag after it initially received hope that something would be done. 

As MLK 50 reports, it has been nearly three years since the City of Memphis and Shelby County, which is the county that houses Memphis, promised to allocate $30,000 to help with the upkeep of five cemeteries, including Hollywood. So far, allegedly, nothing has been done. The situation in Memphis is similar to other cities, where Black cemeteries are either in disrepair or outright hidden by cities and counties who are not motivated to show the dead the respect they deserve. 

As to why this is the case, the answer in Memphis changes depending on who you ask and if the cemetery is connected to a church or not. In Tennessee, laws exist that require commercial cemeteries to establish a separate fund for upkeep, but the law is not applied to churches. According to Shelby County’s official historian, Jimmy Rout III, that provision is also not the only one that convolutes the funding for Black cemeteries connected to churches.

Tennessee only allows 4% of a church-connected cemetery’s trust fund to be used for upkeep, which Rout told MLK 50 is insufficient to meet the actual maintenance costs. Hollywood and Rose Hill, another church-connected Black cemetery, each have $360,000 in their funds but can only use $12,000 to take care of the grounds. 

$35,000 is “…just keeping it (the cemetery) cut because we have a long growing season…As a business proposition, it’s a bad proposition … As a humanitarian proposition, we have to take responsibility for something that the system did not provide enough money for. That’s my view.” Rout III said. 

Theresa Hill Mays, the president of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society of Memphis and the Mid-South, has a different view. While she acknowledges some of the problem is systemic, Hill Mays also suggests that some of the blame lies at the feet of Memphis’s Black community. “Some of this problem is systemic,” Hill Mays told MLK 50. “The response to Black people and Black cemeteries is not the same as with [mainly white] Memorial Park … But we ourselves have neglected our duty and allowed places like Hollywood to fall into disrepair.”

A similar story unfolded in Houston at its historic Olivewood Cemetery, the first Black cemetery incorporated by the City of Houston in 1875. Olivewood and College Memorial Park, where Jack Yates is buried, have been the focus of renovations after being neglected for years. Yates, whose name was given to Third Ward’s Jack Yates High School, was the first pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Houston’s first Black Baptist church, and later founded Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. 

As Texas Monthly reported in 2021, it was largely through the efforts of Margott Williams and Charles Cook that Olivewood was restored. “It just kept bugging me that Olivewood looked the way that it looked. For years, I came out here pushing that lawn mower and doing all of those things, and sometimes I would keep looking at where I parked at, going—nobody yet? Do it for another hour or two. I’d look around—nobody yet? Then, you come do that day after day after day,” Williams told the outlet. 

Eventually, Williams connected with Cook, and the two helped create the Descendants of Olivewood nonprofit, founded to preserve the legacy of those interred at Olivewood Cemetery. In 2008, that group was given guardianship of the cemetery, and through church members, companies, and community members joining the group’s clean-up days, the old cemetery was restored.

Houston’s Olivewood Cemetery’s path charts a potential course for Hollywood Cemetery and the other Black cemeteries of Memphis.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 28, 2024

Tech Firm Settles With Department Of Justice Following Complaints Of ‘Whites Only’ Job Posting

Did they think they would get away with that?

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A tech company in Virginia has settled with the U.S. Department of Justice after being called out for posting a “whites only” job description.

Arthur Grand Technologies Inc.—a minority-owned firm —has been fined a civil penalty of $7,500 by the DOJ’s Justice and Labor departments. The federal contractor was also ordered to pay $31,000 in total to the 31 people who complained about the posting.

“It is shameful that in the 21st century, we continue to see employers using ‘whites only’ and ‘only US born’ job postings to lock out otherwise eligible job candidates of color,” said ​Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke.

An ad for a Dallas-based salesforce business analyst and insurance claims position based was posted by the company in March 2023.

The posting restricted eligible candidates to “only US Born Citizens [white] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates].” According to NPR, the business analyst position “would serve two clients, HTC Global, an information technology company based in Troy, Michigan, and Berkshire Hathaway, the multinational holding company based in Omaha, Nebraska.” 

The posting went viral, sparking outrage on social media. The Department of Justice opened an investigation and found it violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating based on race, national origin, and other protected characteristics. 

Labor Department officials also found the company failed to keep records tracking demographic characteristics of job applicants, including gender, race or ethnicity. The company also failed to post a notice of workers’ equal employment opportunity rights in open places.

Arthur Grand CEO Sheik Rahmathullah denied “any guilt or wrongdoing” in a statement to NRP and placing the blame on a rogue employee.

“We took immediate and decisive action to ensure that this type of incident will never happen again, including the immediate termination of the responsible employee,” Rahmathullah said. “We sincerely apologize for any harm caused by this incident and are committed to making meaningful changes to maintain the trust and confidence of our community and stakeholders,” the statement continued.

Arthur Grand is certified as a Small Disadvantaged Business on the federal contractor’s roster. For status qualification, a majority of the company must be owned by “one or more disadvantaged persons,” who must also be “socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged.”

“We take pride in the fact that all the senior leadership positions in our company are held by persons of color, and over 80% of our staff are also people of color,” Rahmathullah told NPR.

In the agreement with the Labor Department, the company is required to send a letter to those who complained about the post, stating if they want to take part in the agreement, a document must be signed that reads in part, “I understand that AGT denies that it treated me unlawfully or unfairly in any way.”

By signing the document and receiving payment, complainants also agree not to file a lawsuit against the company. The company will be monitored in order to guarantee compliance with anti-discrimination laws. It is also required to train employees on the Immigration and Nationality Act’s requirements and revise its employment policies.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 28, 2024

Pastors Jamal Bryant And Karri Turner Of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Are Engaged

Megachurch Pastor Jamal Bryant is feeling "overjoyed" about his recent engagement to fellow pastor Karri Turner.

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Megachurch Pastor Jamal Bryant is feeling “overjoyed” about his recent engagement to fellow pastor Karri Turner.

Bryant took to the pulpit on Sunday, May 26, to update the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church congregation on this life development. An Instagram video announcement showed him gushing about the “amazingly beautiful and amazingly brilliant” woman he recently saw receive her “doctorate degree,” whom while at Turner’s graduation, the Lord told him “You big dummy! What is you waiting on?”

“I am so grateful to God that she has consented to be my wife,” he announced to a round of applause and cheers from the congregation. “Would you help me thank God for Dr. Karri Turner?”

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A post shared by Pastor Jamal Bryant (@jamalhbryant)

Turner joined him on stage and wiped happy tears from her face as the crowd cheered.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am, how happy my family is, how happy my children are and I hope my church is happy for me,” Bryant said.

“I’m grateful to God that today the Lord has given @mzkarribaby to be my wife and @newbirthmbc has a First Lady. My heart is overjoyed and my destiny is in clear focus. Love always wins!!” Bryant captioned his Instagram post.

“My Love! I Love You Soo much!!♥️♥️♥️” she wrote on the post.

Bryant’s ex-wife, The Real Housewives of Potomac star Gizelle Bryant, also expressed her support by writing, “Congratulations! Very happy for you!” She and Bryant share their three daughters who are regularly featured on the hit Bravo reality show.

On Monday, Turner followed up with a close-up shot of her giant diamond engagement ring.

“And the Lord remembered her,” she captioned the post.

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A post shared by Dr. KARRI TURNER, D.Min., M.Div.💕| ATLANTA (@mzkarribaby)

“RHOP” fans have followed Gizelle’s post-divorce journey with Jamal where she’s openly admitted to her ex-husband’s infidelity which led to their split. Gizelle, who remains single, has even navigated rekindling her relationship with Jamal on the show, but to no avail. The former couple share their three daughters, Grace, Adore, and Angel.

RELATED CONTENT: Former Netflix Exec Bozoma Saint John Joins ‘The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills’

by Stacy Jackson

May 28, 2024

The Olympics Selects Sculptor Alison Saar To Create 2024 Paris Artwork

The artist will oversee every aspect of the sculpture as the artwork is brought to fruition on French soil.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Paris 2024 Games organizers have commissioned renowned Los Angeles artist Alison Saar to create a public sculpture honoring the Olympic and Paralympic legacy.

Saar’s piece will be installed in the French capital, aligning with Paris 2024’s themes of “international diversity, equality, and the Olympic principle of promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” According to the Olympics, the sculpture is part of its Olympic Art Visions program, an initiative where the IOC invites esteemed artists to conceive original works drawing inspiration from athletics and Olympic ideals. The pieces are intended to be public exhibits within the Games’ host city.

Saar felt “deeply honored to have been selected to create the Olympic sculpture.” The sculptor hopes “this work of art, a gift to the people and the city of Paris, will become a gathering space for the public to experience the spirit of friendship and interconnection across cultures and borders.”

The endeavor upholds a unique Olympic tradition as the IOC continues to curate an international artistic community, build connections, and pass the torch across the Games.

Saar emerged victorious from a select list of prestigious American artists who submitted proposals. Her selection was unanimously decided by an advisory board that recognized her “commitment to the Olympic values” and vision for the 2024 Paris Games. This engaging initiative reinforces art’s integral role in the Olympic movement by “building connections…through an international artistic community.” Saar’s acclaimed body of work examines injustices and individuals from marginalized and underrepresented communities.

The sculptor follows the work of Xavier Veilhan, the French sculptor of The Audience for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

From conception to fabrication, Saar will oversee every aspect of the sculpture as the artwork is brought to fruition on French soil. The highly-anticipated unveiling is scheduled for “Olympic Day” in Paris.