Philly’s getting its first public statue of an African-American girl

Set to be unveiled this spring, the monument is a nod to the strength and heroism of Philadelphia kids.

By Michaela Winberg via https://billypenn.com

It took 335 years for Philadelphia to erect its first public monument honoring an African American. Up since September 2017, the Octavius Catto statue outside City Hall remembers a 19th century educator and civil rights activist.

Just 18 months later, the city will notch another milestone: its first statue of an African-American girl.

This spring, South Philly’s Smith Recreation Center will become home to a life-sized bronze of a middleschooler playing basketball, frozen in a decisive moment as she guards the ball from opponents unseen.

The installation is the capstone of a handful of upgrades rolled out at the rec center in the last few years, a renovation spearheaded by former Eagle Connor Barwin’s community development nonprofit Make the World Better.

At 26th and Snyder, the playground had long been in a state of disrepair.

“We were looking for a place with a lot of youth, a lot of activity and intense community …

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