Although the Statue of Liberty represents freedom, on the day of her dedication, she was also a symbol of irony in the United States. The America of 1886 was much different than the America today. Although every individual was officially free, that didn’t mean that everyone enjoyed equal rights. The landmark was unveiled under controversy.
During the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, only men were allowed on the landmark’s island. Only the sculptor’s wife and one committee member’s granddaughter were present. The excuse was that the committee feared women would be crushed in the frenzy on the island. As a symbol of protest, a group of suffragists chartered a boat and got as close to the landmark as possible. They felt that the Statue of Liberty was especially important to women because she was female, and she was a reason for women to be allowed to vote.
African Americans also took some offense at the landmark’s dedication. They felt she was a farce because America was not as free as it claimed. Too many hard working blacks were discriminated against, and many even lived in fear for their lives. Some even suggested that the landmark be pushed into the river until the country could actually provide what it represented.
It would be many years before the beloved statue would truly represent the things she was meant to uphold. Yet, even in the 21st Century, the landmark’s symbolism often falters as misunderstandings and prejudices continue to plague a country that was built on the basic principal that all people are created equal.