Dallas’ ‘whites only’ sign on display as reminder of city’s segregated past

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – In Dallas, a reminder of some painful historical past has returned to a spot of prominence.  

The Dallas Water Fountain Undertaking is an artwork set up tasked with including perspective to a “whites solely” signal found on the county information constructing almost twenty years in the past.

“That is the rationale each alternative I communicate to this,” mentioned Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Worth, “It isn’t vital race concept, it’s important race details. And we at the moment are the courier for the details.”

The ‘white’s solely’ signal, etched into the marble wall above a water fountain, was found in 2003 when an indication that had been masking it fell off. Its discovery, though the content material was not shocking, was nonetheless controversial – even in communities of colour.

“Native NAACP mentioned ‘Why – why are we holding it?’” recollects Commissioner Worth, who has insisted that the signal be preserved as an ‘eyes-wide-open’ reminder of town’s segregated previous.

“In these days, it was represented as simply the way in which it was. And that all the time saddened me… ya know?” Brian Freeman would have been welcomed at that water fountain reserved for whites. And it troubles him now, simply as he says it did then. “As a result of that did not make sense in any respect to a younger child, introduced up that manner… simply did not make sense.”

Quick ahead and the 81-year-old says he is honored that his marble firm was tasked with rigorously eradicating the signal’s stone slab to create the educating device, an artwork set up created by artist Lauren Woods.  

It was unveiled in 2013, however spent the previous a number of years in storage because the Information Constructing underwent renovations. It was re-dedicated right this moment, with a church-like reverence as these gathered had been led in a rendition of a gospel hymn ‘We have Come This Far By Religion.’

“It’s a church second as a result of it is just by religion,” insists Worth. “It is by religion that I noticed it. It is by religion that I used to be capable of finding two of my colleagues with sufficient braveness to say ‘let’s protect it’. It was by religion… as I mentioned, fact without end. I am ecstatic. I am elated. And the truth that dad and mom introduced their kids right this moment, to see and be part of it – says all of it.”

Asher Caruthers, a 12-year-old historical past buff, was among the many onlookers.

“And I believe folks can be taught from folks’s errors and we are able to make it higher,” says Caruthers.

“Similar to in our private lives, after we make errors, our most poignant motivator to do the appropriate factor is after we failed,” says County Commissioner JJ Koch, District 2, gesturing to the fountain, “That is the place we failed. I am very glad we’re highlighting that, as we proceed to indicate prominently our failures, so we do not repeat them.”

The artwork set up incorporates civil rights movies the place hatred as soon as flowed.

“We at the moment are the courier for the details,” says Worth. “And the way dare we let all of these people in our previous, allow them to down by not carrying forth the stones. Moses informed Joshua, ‘these 12 stones. What do you say of those stones? when our youngsters look and say: THIS is the place we have come from’.”