OMG another White guy who appropriates culture from others (like Elvis) gets a statue? Where's the DEI gang in Washington? This is outrageous.
For god's sake, he gets all this credit for singing Folsom Prison blues and never went to the joint.
U.S. House approves Sept. 24 for ceremony unveiling Cash statue
July 25, 2024 at 5:42 p.m.
by Alex Thomas, Arkansas Democrat Gazette
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives has made the first move in finalizing a date for the public unveiling of a statue recognizing Arkansas icon and country music legend Johnny Cash.
Congress' lower chamber approved a concurrent resolution on Tuesday authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an unveiling ceremony, during which the bronze Cash statue will officially become part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. The legislation sets Sept. 24 as the date for the event.
The Senate will need to concur with the resolution to finalize the timing.
Arkansas and other states may contribute two statues to the National Statuary Hall Collection honoring important and noteworthy individuals. State legislatures and governors have the authority when it comes to the installation and removal of statues.
During the 2019 legislative session, Arkansas lawmakers agreed to replace statutes recognizing Uriah Rose and James Paul Clarke with new figures of Cash and civil rights leader Daisy Bates. Crews removed the Rose and Clarke statues in April in anticipation of installing the new statues.
Rose played an important role in creating the American Bar Association, yet he held Confederate sympathies. Clarke -- who served as governor and U.S. senator -- voiced support for upholding "the white standards of civilization."
Arkansans and top public officials unveiled the Bates statue in May. The Bates statue is located at the former site of the Rose statue in National Statuary Hall near the House chamber. The installation marked the second time a state honored a Black woman with recognition in the National Statuary Hall Collection; Florida gifted a marble statue of educator Mary McLeod Bethune in July 2022.
"What we were trying to do was to be reflective of the state of Arkansas in a more contemporary fashion that reflects some more modern historic figures in the state of Arkansas," Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., said. "These were two great figures to be honored."
Crawford, of Jonesboro, introduced the concurrent resolution earlier this month. Arkansas' other House members -- Republicans French Hill of Little Rock, Steve Womack of Rogers, and Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs -- supported the legislation.
"This took a long time, but it's worth it," Crawford added, referencing the time preceding this year's two ceremonies.
Cash was born in the Cleveland County community of Kingsland in February 1932, but his family moved to the Mississippi County town of Dyess three years later. During his musical career, Cash built an iconic status with songs like "Ring of Fire" and "Folsom Prison Blues," eventually receiving recognition from multiple music institutions such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Shane Broadway, chairman of Arkansas' National Statuary Hall Steering Committee, recalled the excitement surrounding the Bates statue unveiling in May when discussing the Cash statue with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday.
"I still have people every day tell me it was one of the highlights of their life because it was such a special day," he said.
"I don't know the last time that two statues were unveiled in the same year, but it's certainly exciting for those of us who've worked on it for the last five years," Broadway added. "We've put a lot of hours and miles on ourselves trying to get to this point, but it has been one of the most rewarding things of my career to be involved in."
Broadway serves as the vice president of university affairs for Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Cash's boyhood home in Dyess is an Arkansas State University Heritage Site.
"Our hope is that all of these millions of visitors that see the statue of Johnny Cash and learn more about his story from the tour guides will hopefully come to Arkansas," Broadway said. "Our hope is that people will come to see his birthplace in Kingsland, come to see where he was raised in Dyess, and learn about the story that led to a lot of Johnny's music and who he was."
The Cash statue's final place will be located in Emancipation Hall, the central gathering point in the Capitol Visitor Center. The Clarke statue was located on the top level of the Capitol Visitor Center above the hall.
According to Broadway, the Architect of the Capitol recommended placing the Cash statue in Emancipation Hall because of its height and design showing Cash bowing his head.
"We were, of course, very excited," Broadway said. "If you're taking a tour through the Capitol Visitor Center, you will walk right by Johnny Cash's statue to go into a theater before beginning your tour."
According to Laura Trivers, the communications specialist with the Capitol Visitor Center, more than 2 million people walk through the facility on an annual basis.
"They are positioning his statue in a way that gives you 360-degree access," Crawford said.
Little Rock sculptor Kevin Kresse designed the Cash statue. Broadway said Thursday the statue is ready to be transported to Washington, D.C. to be installed.
"You learn a lot from doing the first one in terms of managing everything that comes with it," he mentioned. "We're very excited to be at this point."
The statue may not be the only honor for Cash on Capitol Hill this year. The House passed legislation last month to rename the Kingsland post office after Cash; Westerman introduced the related bill.
The Senate could consider the issue when senators return to Capitol Hill next Monday for legislative business. The House canceled all of next week's votes, getting an early start to the month-long August recess.
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