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Home · News

A Tennessee Art Student's Rainbow Noose Project Sparks Outrage

"This incident is deeply disturbing and is hurtful to our university community," said University President Alisa White.
A Tennessee Art Student’s Rainbow Noose Project Sparks Outrage
Instagram/naacp.apsu
By Sydney Scott · Updated October 27, 2020

A Tennessee art student’s project was installed for less than an hour before it was swiftly removed by police for its insensitivity. 

‘Nina’ Distributor Robert L. Johnson Supports Zoe Saldana Amidst Backlash

Six rainbow-colored nooses were hung on a tree at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee as a project “meant to address the cycle of death and rebirth that is represented by the arrival of spring.” The student, whose name was not disclosed added, “I had no social or political statements in mind. I did not take into consideration that nooses are a racially charged symbol, for that I am sorry.”

BuzzFeed Apologizes For Controversial ‘Black People Questions’ Video

Nooses have been a racially-charged symbol for quite sometime, especially in the south and Tennessee, where black people have been lynched, so it’s hard to believe anyone wouldn’t think a little harder before installing a project like this. However, the initial concept was approved with the professor expressing some concern about how it would be interpreted. Speculation suggest that the project was meant to highlight the struggles facing the LGBT community. 

‘Gods of Egypt’ Whitewashing Controversy: Ava DuVernay Responds to Studio and Director’s Apology

University President Alisa White stated, “This incident is deeply disturbing and is hurtful to our university community. I am saddened, and I am sorry for the hurt and offense this has caused.”

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