O.C. Prepares Its Annual Lesson in Black History
When Santa Ana artist Michael Cunningham thinks of huddled masses in search of freedom, he sees the Statue of Liberty. Her hair is in dreadlocks and her face is black.
His vision, inspired by the recent controversy over whether the statue, dedicated in 1886, was originally conceived to mark the end of slavery in America, is the subject of his painting “Black Statue of Liberty.”
In his view it is a proper return to an earlier model of the statue--made in 1870 by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi--that shows a woman with shackles on her feet and holding what appears to be a broken chain in her left hand. Edouard de Laboulaye, who commissioned the statue, was a leader in the French abolitionist movement.
“This part of history always gets swept under the rug, because no one wants to stir the pot,” said Cunningham, 38, of Laguna Niguel. “It’s a historical perspective that needs to be told.”
Cunningham’s voice will be heard and his work featured this weekend at Saturday’s Black History Cultural Faire in Santa Ana, which kicks off a month of celebrations and special programs throughout the county. The fair with food booths, live entertainment and a parade, presented by the Mission With Benevolence Foundation and the city of Santa Ana, will be the largest event of its kind in Orange County, organizers say.
Seven floats will glide along Broadway and Civic Center Drive with 150 ethnic and nonprofit groups represented.
The parade grand marshal is Lake Forest’s Kathryn McCullough, Orange County’s first black mayor.
An estimated 10,000 people attended last year. With blacks representing only 2% of the population in Santa Ana, the parade’s 20-year history is an impressive feat, organizers say.
“Even though the actual African American community in Santa Ana and Orange County is a small number, they’re a vibrant presence in terms of their community participation,” said Lorraine L. McCarty of the city Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency.
For the first time, the Artists Village will enter its own float in the parade.
In dazzling yellow, orange, red and gold, the 35-foot-long float will highlight the performing arts and will showcase a local jazz band, flamenco dancers and two visual artists, who will demonstrate their talents by sculpting and painting. Ten children surrounding the float will wear animal masks made by local artists and carry a banner with the motto “Art: The Language of the Heart.”
“We want to cross cultures with art,” said Norma Cunningham, float organizer and president of the Artists Guild at the Santora Building. She and her husband, Michael Cunningham, are owners of the Cunningham Gallery of Fine Art, formerly Infinity Gallery.
“We represent the many colors of art,” she said. “We wanted to share our art and our African American culture.”
Times staff writer Dennis McLellan contributed to this report.
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Black History Parade and Faire
When: Saturday
Parade: 10 a.m.
Fair: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Source: City of Santa Ana