The Christenberry Artwork

Christenberry’s KKK artwork caused much controversy on the Ole Miss campus this week. Many facility, teachers and students felt that because of Mississippi’s past and the disturbing nature of the artwork. If we took down every piece of art that someone had a problem with then there would hardly be any artwork left. Personally, I feel that it is a very unique opportunity to have his artwork on our campus. Everything that is featured in his artwork is apart of our history and I don’t think we should be terrified to see it. I also feel that it helps the younger generation understand a small portion of what the older generation had to go through.
Even though I personally feel the artwork should remain on campus, I still understand why the artwork is so disliked by many. Vice Chancellor of Multicultural Affairs Donald Cole even said in an interview with the DM, “I think that if we had it to do over again, we would have it a year earlier or a year later. I just hope that people will not come away with the wrong impression like I did at first.” I feel that the university is very scared about what the exhibit will do to their image so close to the debate. Because of the debate, everyone’s eye will be on us. Since we’re a town in the South, people might try to assume we’re still very racist even though a large majority of us are not.
Even though the artwork was very amazing to me, it still had a very chilling factor to it. My first reaction when I walked in the room was something similar to, “Oh my goodness, all of the pictures are staring at me.” Also, the fact that the exhibit was behind curtains and had security watching over it really made it that much more creepy. I felt like I had walked back into the past when entering the room.