About the project

In November 2020, student artists created Emancipation Takes a Knee, a performance piece that reflects on the relationship between historical emancipation and contemporary protest. As they re-sculpt the statue representing the legacy of the Emancipation Proclamation, the work questions how the meaning of freedom continues to evolve.

As the piece unfolds, it thoughtfully engages with complex social and historical issues. Through the creative process captured in the video, the students explore themes of identity, movement, and resistance, offering perspectives on how history continues to shape the present.

The video centers on the symbolic act of kneeling, popularized by Colin Kaepernick, as a form of peaceful protest against racial injustice. By connecting this contemporary gesture to earlier struggles for liberation, the work emphasizes that emancipation is not a fixed moment in history, but an ongoing process.

Through this lens, the video invites viewers to consider how younger generations are actively shaping conversations around justice, memory, and public space, using art as a tool for reflection and dialogue.