After much controversy, a statue commemorating Harriet Tubman has finally been selected. Philadelphia originally chose a design by white sculptor Wesley Wofford. Wesley Wofford was contacted by city officials in 2017 after his traveling Tubman piece was first noticed. Wofford’s piece, titled The Journey to Freedom, is a nine-foot bronze statue depicting Tubman’s confidence as she leads a small child on the Underground Railroad, her face set in quiet determination.

After the city reached out to Wofford, the news got out and there was a multitude of artists and activists who protested the decision of choosing Wofford. They argued that an open competition should have been held, offering an equal opportunity for other artists, including black artists, to have their designs chosen. Instead, Wofford’s design had been selected without any opposition. 

Protestors' views were split relatively evenly. Some object to Wofford’s design strictly because the opportunity wasn’t open to the public and it is to be a public piece. Others object more because of the artist’s race. Claiming the only people to undertake subjects such as these in their art should be those who share a racial identity as well as history. In the end, the arrangement with Wofford was revoked and in August of last year, city officials asked the public to come forward with designs of their own. They would be holding a competition. All five of the finalists were black. Wofford was distraught, claiming that he felt that people were unwilling to hear from him on account of his race. Descendants of Tubman responded to Wofford’s critics saying “Harriet Tubman stood for all races”.

The honor went to a man named Alvin Pettit. His work is called “A Higher Power: The Call of A Freedom Fighter.” His statue is nearly five feet taller than Wofford’s and is also made of bronze. This piece will be the first in the Pennsylvanian cities public art collection to show a black woman as a historic figure. Harriet Tubman was a great many things. A nurse, a spy, a scout, and above all else a role model. Tubman is typically seen being pursued, but Pettit sees her in a different light. He showed Tubman as a conqueror. Her hands folded and her head bowed. One foot braced on a mound of broken shackles and rubble. She has a pistol on her waist and a rifle slung across her back. It is a powerful and emotionally evocative sight for all. The project is scheduled for completion in 2025. The statue will be located directly outside of city hall for public viewing. The budget is around $500,000. The money will come out of the city’s operating budget. The $500,000 includes everything from fabrication costs to artist payment.