Panel discusses controversial mural

Half a century after Marion Greenwood painted the 30-foot-long mural that adorns the west wall of the University Center’s Ballroom, The University of Tennessee hosted a panel discussion before a lively audience of approximately 250 people to debate the controversial image of an African-American man in overalls who sits in front of a cotton field.

The controversy was whether or not this man and the other African-Americans appear happy or stereotypical, and whether the mural promotes racist ideology. Such accusations led to the mural being vandalized, guarded and finally hidden from view for more than 30 years.

The panel discussed race relations and art censorship during a program entitled “The Secret Behind the Wall: The Greenwood Mural.” The discussion occurred after the mural, flanked by explanatory posters, had been revealed to the public for two days.

Another important document in this debate is the small comment book that stood on a black podium near the painting. It is nearly a quarter full of observers’ ideas, opinions and thoughts on the mural.

These observations varied greatly, from confusion over what in the mural could be construed as offensive to reactions similar to those of panelist P. Eric Abercrumbie, director of the Office of Ethnic Programs and Services and the African-American Culture and Research Center at the University of Cincinnati.

“My feeling right away at seeing this: It made me sick to my stomach,” he said. “I went immediately to a headache and immediately to almost thinking that I’m going to need some counseling before this thing is over.

“So I heard the word healing today and seeing this did not provide me with healing,” Abercrumbie said. “To me it is racism ... to me it is no more than a continuation, if you leave it [uncovered], of a perpetuation of white supremacy. It doesn’t need to be here.”

Others advocated keeping the mural as a learning tool.

“If we start at the present and go backwards we’re doomed. We’ll be finger-pointing at what-ifs. This is our mural. If you’re a genealogist, this is part of our family. Get over it. This is us. Study it, learn from it and then get the hell beyond,” panelist Bruce Wheeler, retired UT history professor, said.

The artist’s intent was also discussed by panel members.

“Murals were supposed the make everybody the same race,” panelist Sylvia Rhor, assistant professor of art history at Carlow University, said. “There was an antagonism against showing other races, because we were supposed to be a melting pot. This is actually showing a diversity where murals weren’t supposed to do that.” She quoted the artist describing her passion for painting as “the beauty of the different races of human beings and just people.”

Tierney Bates, assistant director for Minority Student Affairs, said that the most important thing about the controversy is how will the university move on from it.

“The biggest thing for me is where do we go from here, like [the panelists] had mentioned. Well, where will we go?”

He said he thinks the university needs to have a monthly series to keep the dialogue going on issues such as racism, religion and feminism.