Am I even permitted to disagree with my pal Phil Damiani. He’s one of my favorite guys. We’ve worked on projects together. We’ve shared a lot of laughs and a lot of stories. I hang on to his every word and respect him dearly.
I have to challenge Phil’s letter in today’s Delaware County Daily Times where he suggests where the Fredia Gibbs statue should be placed.
Chester native Fredia Gibbs is a world class athlete who may be best known for becoming the first African-American female Kickboxing ISKA World Champion. She earned the name “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World” during her kickboxing career as she also held the WKA and WKF World Kickboxing Titles. Before her kickboxing career, she won three world titles in Tae Kwon Do and was an All-American in basketball and track.
I’d say she deserves a statue.
The statue is just about complete and Damiani’s been contemplating where it should be unveiled. Obviously, Chester is the most logical city to place the statue – but where?
Damiani mentions the serendipitous turn of fortune having the Christopher Columbus statue removed from its base on RT-291 right across from Chester City Hall and quoted Mayor Kirkland as saying what replaces Columbus should reflect and embrace the changing demographics of the City of Chester. I couldn’t agree more.
Here’s where I disagree with my pal Phil.
Although it’s perfectly convenient to take advantage of the great vacant parking spot for Fredia’s statue on RT-291, I suggest we move the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s bust from Veterans Memorial Park to RT-291 and place Fredia Cheetah Gibbs’ statue in the park.
Why? One, because Gibbs is an athlete: she would look great in a park where athletes perform. And, for the same reason MLK enjoys his perch in the park, it is right outside the public library where hundreds of visitors a week pass in and out and have the opportunity to research the lady of bronze on display just a few feet away.
Dr. King is perfectly suited for RT-291 because the road itself as it stretches from end-to-end in Chester is named Rosa Parks Memorial Highway. Need I explain the connection here?
I always seem to stir up some type of controversy, so why not one on where these two great statues of two great people be placed in Chester.
Please chime in. Where would you like to see Fredia’s statue displayed? There’s still time to offer your opinion.
Good idea! Worth submitting this as an LTE to Delco Times as well.
On Sun, Oct 10, 2021 at 10:03 AM Chester Matters Blog wrote:
> SERoots posted: ” Am I even permitted to disagree with my pal Phil > Damiani. He’s one of my favorite guys. We’ve worked on projects together. > We’ve shared a lot of laughs and a lot of stories. I hang on to his every > word and respect him dearly. I have to challenge Phil” >
Hi Stephan. How do I enter a comment/opinion? (Duh). Why not leave M.L.K. where he is and (also) place F.G.s statue in a select spot in the park?
Stay well.
Best wishes.
Reha
Hi. All recommendations are welcome.
I would like to see the statue erected at the entrance of the Soccer Stadium…some folks may have many questions as to why…??? My response is,”Why not?” Well for starters Ms. Fredia Gibbs is from this city and she has achieved so much during her lifetime. To be honored and recognized as the most dangerous woman in the world is quite an achievement. In fact why not open up the doors of Subaru Park Union for the fans who enjoy PROFESSIONAL KICK BOXING? Don’t be SCARED! Professional Kick Boxing draws huge crowds too!! So let’s just do it! Some people may disagree; however it is still a SPORTING VENUE FOR THOSE OF US WHO ENJOY SPORTS!!
Come on folks.; Carli Floyd and members of the NWSL club recently played NJ Gotham at SUBARU PARK last week in celebration of Ms. Floyd’s Farewell Tour. So why not extend the invitation and HONOR to one of our very own PROFESSIONAL FEMALE ATHLETES MS. FREDIA GIBBS?
This maybe the incentive and drive that our young children need to see and experience first hand… someone from the City of Chester who excelled in their QUEST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
THEY NEED TO PUT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BACK!! NASTY NASTY PEOPLE!!