White Freedom and the Lady of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, a global symbol of freedom and democracy, carries an often-overlooked racial dimension that challenges its universalist image. This study reveals how the statue's design and historical narratives in both France and the U.S. reflect and reinforce racialized conceptions of liberty, particularly through its association with whiteness. By analyzing archival materials, public discourse, and cultural representations from the statue’s origins to its American installation, the research exposes the complex interplay between freedom, race, and national identity. It argues that the Statue of Liberty’s significance as a symbol is not only about political ideals but also about the exclusionary practices embedded in modern notions of freedom.

Stovall, T. (2018). White Freedom and the Lady of Liberty. The American Historical Review, 123(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1093/ahr/123.1.1