As for the graffiti comment, I can only surmise that the author of that comment is all too willing to view artists and their art as cultural and social signifiers of some sort. But the reality is that art is often times extremely personal, and what may be one person's subversive act, may not be that at all of the next person - and I suspect this is true for most people who make home goods like quilts! By the way, grafitti has been with us since at least the days of the pharaohs! The messages may have changed, but not the means. That commentator I think is caught up in seeing everything through some sort of ethnic/cultural subversive lense. And to assume that all African Americans, and/or all Africans understand these supposed signs and symbols is ridiculous. African Americans and Africans are as culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse as caucasians are - then and now.

I was pleased to see at least one commentator suggest that it is about time that academic historians start speaking out, instead of keeping their comments to themselves. On that list, at least, some well respected historians of American slavery and freedom have finally made their disapproval known. Let's hope more action is forthcoming.

Kate C. Larson