The case for taking down Confederate monuments

Sculptor Ed Hamilton wants to see Confederate monuments taken down and placed in museums where context can be provided for what he believes are symbols of hatred and oppression.

In Hamilton's hometown of Louisville, Ky., many monuments pay homage to a history that's very hurtful to him. They honour Confederate leaders who fought to keep the slave trade.

The question of whether to keep such monuments is being asked across the U.S this week in large part because of the violence that broke out in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend. A statue of Confederate leader Robert E. Lee was at the heart of that turmoil.

We've seen officials in Baltimore, Md., take down Confederate monuments in their city, and a statue of a Confederate soldier was toppled in Durham, N.C. In Louisville, a review is underway of whether the city's public art might be seen to honour racism or slavery.

Hamilton, a sculptor best known for monuments dedicated to African-American trailblazers like Booker T. Washington and black Civil War veterans, is a part of that debate.

Hamilton speaks to q host Tom Power about the issue.

— Produced by Elaine Chau