Marian Spencer, a civil rights activist with a "spine of steel" who led local desegregation efforts will be honored this weekend with the city's first public sculpture modeled after a real woman.
The sculpture, commissioned by the Women's City Club, will be unveiled at Smale Park on Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m.
Spencer, who died in 2019, is most remembered for leading the charge to desegregate Coney Island and Cincinnati Public Schools. She had leadership roles in on Cincinnati City Council, the NAACP, the University of Cincinnati and Women's City Club. She was also a co-founder of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
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Alice Schneider, a member of the Women's City Club and chair of the Marian A. Spencer Statue Committee, said Spencer has continued to break through barriers even after her death by becoming the first woman to be immortalized in this way.
"It's been a dream of mine to have a statue of a woman. There are maybe close to 100 statues of men in and around Cincinnati and not one of a named, real woman," Schneider said. There are statues of women, like the Genius of Water in Fountain Square, but they're not based on historic figures.
Tom Tsuchiya and Gina Erardi are the sculptors. People might already be familiar with Tsuchiya's work like the bronze statues of Cincinnati Reds players at Great American Ball Park.
Complementing the life-size replica of Spencer, the sculptors elected to add two children beside the late activist to symbolize her work with youth and how she will continue to inspire future generations.
"It'll attract young people to the statue and show what can be accomplished. I think she'll be an example for young people in the city." Schneider said.
The club raised $175,000 from 250 donations – well above their initial goal of $125,000.
"This was the easiest fundraising I've done because, again, she was just so well-liked and inspired people," Schneider said.
Schneider said she was able to get to know Spencer before she passed while they worked together at the Women's City Club.
"She was congenial and friendly, but at the same time, she could get things done. You knew you were working with somebody who was strong and dedicated."
The unveiling, which had been scheduled for last summer but was delayed due to the pandemic, will feature several notable speakers, including Mayor John Cranley, Hamilton County Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas and Councilwoman Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney. Members of Spencer's family will be there as well.
Brewster Rhoads, a friend of Spencer, will also be at the event. He said he met her in 1980 when he first moved here from Washington D.C. At the time, she was the president of the local NAACP, and she co-chaired the Fair Budget Coalition that Rhoads was involved in. He managed her campaign when she ran for City Council and became vice mayor.
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Rhoads said she was tenacious and always stood up for what she thought was right. He also described her as warm and "a hugger" who once invited his family to spend Thanksgiving with her own.
"She had a spine of steel but a heart of gold," Rhoads told The Enquirer.
Spencer carried the title of many firsts. She was the first female president of the local NAACP chapter; the first Black president of the Women's City Club; and the first Black woman elected to city council and to serve as vice mayor.
"It's fitting that someone who stood so tall, even though she was only five foot one, is the person who breaks yet another barrier," Rhoads said.
Spencer's name can already be seen on a street and two buildings. Marian Spencer Way at The Banks was named in March 2016; a University of Cincinnati residence hall was named Marian Spencer Hall in December 2017; and the CPS magnet school Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students opened in 2018.
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