It's not.

        The foreground in a piece of art displayed at the Westin Hotel last week is a mountain of brown, decaying skulls with sightless eyes and black mouths that whisper “holocaust.”

        It's the kind of scene that brings to mind Cambodia, Hitler, Rwanda and Stalin.

        But that's not a swastika emerging from the pile of inhuman misery. It's a gold badge with blood-red writing: “Cincinnati Police.”

        Above the badge is the face of a black man emerging from thunder clouds, clutching his head in his hands.

        The exhibit, which ended Friday, was sponsored by the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati, loaned by the African American Museum at the Cincinnati Museum Center in honor of Black History Month.

The image of a Cincinnati Police badge lying atop a pile of decaying skulls was displayed last week at the Westin Hotel in an exhibit to honor Black History Month. (Steven Fox illustration) | ZOOM |

        The skulls are by graphic artist Steven Fox. He calls it “Justice.”

        “It expresses the frustration of past souls at the injustice in America at how minorities are still being treated,” he said. “It states what's taking place in Cincinnati.”

"What's happening'

        Toilynn O'Neal, museum coordinator and curator, said, “It's a direct comment against what's happening here.”

        “Some people have tried not to look at it,” she said. “We didn't set out to be controversial, but it reflects what's happening.”

        What's happening?

        I know we see things differently, but I guess I missed the news about genocide in Cincinnati. I must have been out to lunch when the mass graves were excavated and the gas chambers were closed.

        Mr. Fox said he hopes his artwork starts conversations. “I didn't want to hurt relationships between the races.”

        But the unmistakable message I got was a kick in the stomach for Cincinnati cops, echoing the distorted claim that cops are “murdering” black men. I saw justification for “black rage” rioters and a forecast of more storm clouds brewing.

        Mr. Fox has talent. Ms. O'Neal is right: His artwork makes you think.

        It made me think that it is divisive and irresponsible.

        It shouldn't be censored any more than my opinions should be. But some people would not be so tolerant if a similar work of art took a distorted view from the other side of town.

Double standard

        Imagine a picture of local Black United Front leaders standing on a mountain of skulls. Outrageous? But for every person who thinks the Cincinnati Police are murderers, someone else probably thinks the Rev. Damon Lynch III is responsible for a wave of shootings in Over-the-Rhine because his protests gave permission for rioting and lawlessness.

        Blaming him would be unfair — just as unfair as implying that our police chief is Pol Pot.

        I wonder what kind of protests we'd hear if cops were portrayed as heroes? Oh, wait — we already know. When a toy company used a Cincinnati cop as a model for action figures, there were protests that it was “inappropriate.”

        Yet, Ms. O'Neal and Mr. Fox both said they have not heard any negative comments about the picture.

        “I guess they might be too intimidated to say anything,” she speculated.

        Whaddyaknow. Cincinnati is not so uptight. We tolerate even the worst insults to our city and the cops who keep it safe — and we say nothing.

        Isn't that healthy?

        Contact Peter Bronson at 768-8301; fax: 768-8610; e-mail: pbronson@enquirer.com. Cincinnati.Com keyword: Bronson.

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