Last week, a 12-foot bronze statue of a Black woman popped up in the middle of Times Square, and let’s just say — the internet had thoughts.
Titled Grounded in the Stars and created by British sculptor Thomas J Price, the statue shows a young Black woman in everyday clothes, looking unbothered and unapologetically herself. No superhero pose. No fancy dress. Just a regular Black woman, standing tall in one of the busiest places on Earth. And honestly? That alone has sparked everything from admiration to full-on vitriol online.
A Win for Representation — But Not Everyone’s Clapping
On one hand, it’s beautiful to see a monument that looks like us in such a public space. Too often, we’re either erased from public art or only shown in hyper-stylized, “respectable” forms. This statue flips that on its head — she’s got twists, AirPods, sneakers. She looks like someone we know. She looks like us.
But of course, as soon as something celebrates Black womanhood without trying to fit into respectability politics, here come the critics.
Some folks on Twitter and TikTok have called the statue “ugly,” “manly,” or even “monstrous.” Yes, really. And unfortunately, a lot of that hate is coming from our own communities too — which makes it hurt even more.
TikToker @sheisimanib said it best: “Everything being said about the statue by Black folks is what’s always said about Black women by others! Interesting!” She’s not wrong. There’s a long history of policing how we look, how we move, how we exist — and this statue is bringing all of that to the surface.
@sheisimanib Replying to @Imani B. 🛫 Everything being said about the statue by Black folks it’s what’s always said about Black women by others! Interesting! #timessquare #nyc #statue #blackwomen ♬ original sound – Imani B. 🛫
Why This Statue Matters
Whether people love it or hate it, Grounded in the Stars forces us to have a deeper conversation. Who gets to be seen in public art? Whose everyday existence is worth celebrating?
The artist intentionally made the figure anonymous — she’s not a celebrity or historical figure. She’s just a Black woman. But that’s the whole point. We don’t need to “achieve” greatness to be honored. Our presence alone is powerful. Our existence matters.
This statue isn’t just about representation — it’s about redefinition. And for many of us, that feels long overdue.
What We See When We Look At Her
When we look at this statue, we see ourselves. We see our sisters, our aunties, our best friends. We see a woman who is rooted, grounded, and refusing to shrink herself for anyone. She’s in Times Square like she belongs — because she does.
Because yes, the backlash hurts. But it also proves how necessary this kind of art really is. It shows just how uncomfortable the world still is with the idea of Black women being celebrated simply for existing.
We’re not going to let harmful commentary drown out the significance of this moment. We’ve spent too long being overlooked. This statue says: no more.
Grounded in the Stars will be on display in Times Square until June 17. If you’re in NYC, go see her. Take a photo. Stand tall with her. She’s for us.
