Nestled in the back of Bronx Community College (BCC) campus on one of the highest points in the borough with spectacular views of the city is a little-known secret fortress.  

Since 1907, a semi-circular enclave of solid bronze busts depicting various American historical figures from the world of politics, the arts, science, and others line a classical-style stone-arched colonnade, presiding majestically over the bustling University Heights neighborhood and Harlem River.  

The secluded monument, known as the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, designed by American architect Stanford White, was the first of its kind in the country when it was built, but like other public monuments, it has not been free from controversy. There are few women represented, for starters.

And in 2017, discussions on controversial historical figures such as confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, whose busts were removed from the Hall two years ago as part of a national trend that condemned the history of the Confederacy in the United States, came to the forefront in the aftermath of the 2015 fatal church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, and the fatal car attack at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. Critics say confederate statues symbolize and glorify white supremacy. 

In light of the controversial nature of the topic, and the tragedies which have ensued, Bronx Community College is hosting a month-long exhibition from 21 September through 25 October entitled Diversity in Public Art: Empowering Community Voices at the Hall of Fame. The aim is to open the discussion among staff, Bronx residents, faculty, students and the wider public as to what constitutes American greatness and who gets to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Cynthia Tobar, Head of Archives at BCC, explained that, historically, candidates considered for inclusion in the Hall of Fame had to have been U.S. citizens by birth or through naturalization, and had to have died at least 25 years before their nomination. 

Historically, elections were held every five years between 1907 and 1970 and were conducted by a committee of prominent representatives from the 50 states. The most recent bust installed there was that of Franklin Roosevelt in 1992, but in the early 1900s such public monuments were used to document the notoriety and accomplishments of military heroes. 

“This school had been designed with that student body in mind – basically very white, very male-centric,” said Tobar. The college was originally owned by NYU, but was sold to BCC in 1973 when the latter was undergoing financial difficulties.  

“We want to celebrate American greatness,” said Tobar. “And now, even the term – and people arguing and debating about what is it to be an American – how do we reframe that? How do we disrupt those structures and come from a place of inclusivity to broaden that definition?”

The exhibition will consist of paintings, sculptures, films, digital art, and various mixed media, while the exhibit seeks to re-examine the Hall of Fame and ultimately address the importance of cultural diversity in public monuments.  

It is timely and appropriate such an event is hosted by BCC given nearly 100 percent of the student body hail from ethnic minorities, and over one half, 55 percent are first-generation students. The majority come from the Bronx. 

Eve Marrero, is originally from Germany but has been a resident of the Bronx for about 20 years and is eager to attend the exhibition launch on Saturday. “Oh absolutely, I think it’s a good idea to get a new perspective on how to define what’s today’s worth and also for young people, what’s important to you?” she said. “What is it you’re looking up to? What is it you admire? What is your role model and what is your values, you know, because we have to renew our values in a way. The younger generation have different values than we do, and I think it should be a beautiful, interesting discussion.”  

Devin Williams is a paralegal student at BCC and said it was important to keep a balance in terms of numbers.  “I think you can’t get rid of one side because General Grant is in the Hall of Fame too – that’s the guy who was on the opposite side of the Confederate who was a Union General,” he said. “It’s like – it’s all a part of history and that’s what it’s really about. We can all have an opinion on what’s right or wrong about history but that’s just all that is here today. If they inducted two people every year, it would have to be one person from this side [each year], one person from that side. That’s it – simple.”

Williams added, “I kind of think they should keep this stuff up because it’s a part of history, you know. I just don’t see how people should be offended by, you know, people who were doing stuff that was politically correct for their time or era.”

Quadir Martin will commence his studies at BBC in January 2020. “That’s history. Keep it up and put some more new people there,” he said. “Like Rosa Parks – make it even. Put some statues of them up too – Martin Luther King, Malcolm X. Everybody get together and have a mutual discussion about it.” 

Anally Hernández has just started her biology studies at BBC and said entry should be based on the impact of the candidate’s achievements, such as a person who stops a school shooter. “I think they should be in the Hall of Fame, because they risked themselves for other people and without them doing such a thing, then more people would’ve gotten hurt,” she said. “Our campus is diverse so it wouldn’t be able to equal out every aspect, but even if some disagree or some agree, it’s just based on how the outcome comes out so I think, like, it’s good for everyone to vote on it.” 

Reggs Gyongecaj studies biology and chemistry at BCC and was unaware of the event, but wondered whether Dr. Martin Luther King is celebrated at the hall. “I think he should be there because the majority of the students is black. I think he should be there.”

Editor’s note: Further information about the event, which is free and open to the public can be found on Eventbrite.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.