Fortitude, Metal sculpture at Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States.
Fortitude is a metal sculpture at Fortitude Plaza, near the Howard University campus in Washington, D.C. It depicts a woman in a sleeveless dress and high heels, walking forward with one arm raised and the other open at her side.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority commissioned artist James King in 1979 to create the work in honor of the sorority's 22 founders. The sculpture was later placed in a plaza designed specifically for it by Howard University architecture students.
The figure moves forward with one arm raised, a gesture that visitors read as one of strength and openness toward others. The plaza itself was designed by four female Howard University architecture students, which adds another layer of meaning to the site.
Fortitude Plaza is a public space that stays open throughout the day, making it easy to walk around the sculpture and see it from different angles. The plaza sits close to the Howard University campus and is straightforward to reach on foot.
In 1986, the sorority gifted miniature versions of the sculpture to prominent women around the world, including Winnie Mandela. Through these gifts, the work traveled far beyond the campus and reached people whose lives were tied to social change.
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