What Inspired the Statue of Liberty

Today I was made aware the original inspiration for the United States version of the "Statue of Liberty" was a "black woman."

The National Parks Services (NPS) contends the "black woman" inspiration is a "rumor."  However, NPS explains in it's two (2) years of research they can surmize that "The statue's design almost certainly evolved from an earlier concept Bartholdi proposed for a colossal monument in Egypt, for which the artist used his drawings of Egyptian women as models."

Which black women are we talking about?  The black women of Afraka or the black women in Egypt a country in Afraka?  

The summary also says..."Bartholdi changed a broken shackle and chain in the statue's left hand to tablets...to emphasize a broader vision of liberty for all mankind."

Well this definitely sounds like an Afrakan-American women inspired statue to me.  Egyptians are not known for en-slaving their mothers and daughters.

By rational deduction...seems the rumor is correct.

Inspired by women of Afraka-Egypt; shackles; chains...yep.

Thanks for making me read between the lines NPS...see the article at www.nps.gov/stli/historyculture/black-statue-of-liberty.htm