Potrait of a Hero

Jamie: 23rd Nov 2005 - 09:09 GMT

i like how the construction worker looks like chris rock

GGP: 23rd Nov 2005 - 12:59 GMT

i like how the sign should be written in the plural instead of the singular.

elaine: 23rd Nov 2005 - 13:22 GMT

i like that too. which one is the american worker?

elaine: 23rd Nov 2005 - 14:17 GMT

he might be her house husband bringing her sandwiches

Peter: 23rd Nov 2005 - 14:22 GMT

an american conundrum: who shall be the ideal "american worker"? the black man or the white woman? at least this time they didnt merely put a white man on there. thats pretty forward thinking. especially for osme parts of texas...

ian: nice find! id love to know where you found this- whats the setting? an office parking lot or something?

elaine: 23rd Nov 2005 - 14:25 GMT

they've covered 4 bases there, though, which is nifty politically correct work

jack: 23rd Nov 2005 - 14:51 GMT

i think its ok to have a black guy there it shows the black kids what a man looks like. black kids are taught the wrong things all the time. why do you think they always say, 'remember what your grandma taught you', well they should know the way to building a family is hard work. the man must take responsibility for his actions and start being a man. he must be at the head of his family and being at the head he must serve his wife and children. then he can take care of his own relaxing moment. look at all those guys lining up for a game. they were'nt boys they were grown men who don't realize their place in life. they think first about playing and having fun, when they should be building a better society. they are leaving that to the women. so the women have to take charge and then the menboys resent it. i grew up under men who fought a war. they taught me right from wrong. i taught my boys the same things and now they have children of their own. aahh gee, i cant keep talking about this because all of you are saying shut up jack so i'll fade out and look at the nice photos you people went and took for us to look at. photography is an art and more people should study it because it helps you see the world as it is.

Jamie: 23rd Nov 2005 - 14:55 GMT

i don't think it's particularly a black or a white thing jack. but i understand and agree with what your saying.

ian: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:01 GMT

Peter,

This is deep in the heart of Houston's roughest neighborhood, the Fifth Ward. As is unfortunately so typical, it's an African American neighborhood. It sits on the edge of a scrap yard. Kayman and I were there working on a creek restoration project (see my lj for details.)

ian: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:03 GMT

It (the sign) sits on the edge of a scrap yard.

Let's see what this pulls up: Fifth Ward

Peter: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:06 GMT

huh! that trenches is a great read, btw.

whats the fifth ward? this sort of kitsch/handmade/public-service/self-conscious stuff is always very fascinating to me. i love how you have an eye for this sort of odd stuff, and are willing to share it. stuff like this is amongst my fav entries here... there's so much potential discussion and backstory!

ian: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:09 GMT

The thing that struck me most about this sign (aside from the creative spelling and grammar) was that the black man has a blue collar, manual labor job, while the white woman is an office worker or a professional of some sort. Assuming it was created by someone in the neighborhood, it's very odd that they would continue to enforce these racial roles. Perhaps it's so deeply ingrained that the act was entirely subconscious and the artist was not even aware he was perpetuating the status quo. Typically African American art features black men in roles that defy cultural constraints, not reinforce them.

ian: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:14 GMT

The six Wards are the remnants of Houston's original political divisions from the late 1800's. I live in the Third Ward, which is the area South and East of the CBD. Fourth Ward lies to the West of the CBD, Fifth Ward to the Northeast of the CBD, and the Sixth to the Northwest. I don't recall the locations of the other two. The Wards have a very colorful history, which unfortunately, I don't have time to get into right now. You can poke around the Texas Handbook, it has a bit of information.

www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/FF/hpfhk.html

Peter: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:16 GMT

hmm, i had almost that exact thought when i first saw it. thats why i was saying "...who shall be the ideal "american worker"? the black man or the white woman?..." its a fascinating question, indeed, and your info about the neighborhood makes it all the more prescient.

it is so odd, the negative reinforcement going on here. it always boils down to whos wearing the hardhat and whos wearing the business suit... and what color they are.

now... a white woman in a hardhat and coveralls and a black man in a business suit... that would have made some people pause and think- as well they should...

xanoix: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:19 GMT

The black man looks like he is frowning. I would be too, if I worked for such a pretentious looking white woman, if this is what that sign is implying.

Peter, I think you are right. It would be fascinating to see such a sign with a white woman in the blue-collar role and a black man in the suit.

jeeff: 23rd Nov 2005 - 18:53 GMT

i think they should leave the black guy alone and change the white woman to a topless dancer.

Pearlander: 26th Nov 2005 - 20:06 GMT

I also noted that the sign had not been "tagged". Perhaps it is the product of a local artist who has been given the respect of those in the 'hood.

ian: 27th Nov 2005 - 02:10 GMT

Pearlander: I'm assuming you're from Pearland, so you might know as well as I do that Houston has almost no graffiti, anywhere. It's really eerie. Nothing is tagged. Art, here, has finally died.

Chris Erb: 3rd Aug 2006 - 16:01 GMT

IS that due to efforts made by the city or are people in Houston just not interested in graffiti?

Daniel Ewing: 17th Oct 2006 - 21:23 GMT

i think this i one rediculas article because there is no reason to change my hometown