General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMonuments honoring and glorifying AAs / those who built our country / slaves
Does anyone know if these exist?
Weekend Warrior
(1,301 posts)I just like to share this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_African_American_History_and_Culture
cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)thank you.
SweetieD
(1,660 posts)South America that I saw the other day. If I can find the link I will post. The US doesn't have anything even remotely similar in the type of images in the structures there. Images where people are breaking chains. Someone posted a picture of a monument in new york dedicated to the underground railroad. There are also some small African American museums with motifs on the outside. But stand alone monuments in busy city squares, like we have of Confederate generals, no.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)You can do a Google search for "slave memorial," to find the ones that exist. You won't find them, though, in most places where slavery was a commonplace in this country. Sad.
Lithos
(26,397 posts)SweetieD
(1,660 posts)There are a lot of monuments dedicated to African people and freedom fighters in Latin America and the carribean.
Lithos
(26,397 posts)Freedman's memorial in Dallas
SweetieD
(1,660 posts)That if in the south there are any monuments dedicated to ex slaves or freedom from slavery that are as prominent as Confederate monuments. Monuments that are in city centers where people would walk by it on their way to work etc.
Lithos
(26,397 posts)In the case of Dallas, I would think the Freedman's memorial is much more approachable - front and center - than the Confederate memorials.
In Austin, I think there is a Freedman's sculpture, *but* I think it's definitely overshadowed by the Confederate memorials at the Capitol. I think the ones at UT have been removed, or are in the process of being removed. For other places in the South, I remember that these types of things are either at the following types of places:
1) Court houses - honoring the local war dead - very similar to those erected for WWI and WW2. This is the most common
2) Cemetaries - especially those with lots of veterans and/or famous individuals
3) Battlefield sites
4) Universities
The few Freedman memorials seem tied to large cemetaries and/or modern remembrances of freedman settlements. There is nothing comparable to item (1) mostly because the former being driven by the "veterans" angle. Most Universities are removing things unless the person has a huge tie with the University.
cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)stunning. Love.
Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)Numerous heroes to choose from. Also ones honoring those who were murdered in the cause that would include those like Schwerner, Goodman and Liuzzo.
Weekend Warrior
(1,301 posts)Robert Smalls who escaped slavery and eventually served in the South Carolina State legislature and U.S. House of Representatives wrote the legislation that put in place the first public education system in South Carolina.
Five or so years ago they placed a historic marker where he helped a number of slaves escape, including himself.
https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/charleston-begins-to-address-black-history-with-robert-smalls-memorial/Content?oid=4070879
dalton99a
(81,065 posts)Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)Please keep them coming.
flyingfysh
(1,990 posts)It is a monument to the Massachusetts 54th, an all-volunteer regiment lead by a white officer, Robert Gould Shaw. I would paste a picture of it here, I haven't yet learned how to put up a picture on DU. You can see several pictures of it (and related pictures) at https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=massachusetts+54th&qpvt=massachusetts+54th&qpvt=massachusetts+54th&qpvt=massachusetts+54th&FORM=IGRE
Here are several more pictures:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=massachusetts+54th+monument+st+gaudens&qpvt=massachusetts+54th+monument+st+gaudens&qpvt=massachusetts+54th+monument+st+gaudens&qpvt=massachusetts+54th+monument+st+gaudens&FORM=IGRE
The monument is in front of the State House, right across Beacon Street, on the edge of Boston Common. Gould lived with his family a short distance away on Beacon Street. There were several hundred blacks, and about a hundred of them were personally recruited by Frederick Douglass. As there were leaving to go fight, they paraded in front of the State House, and the governor and Frederick Douglass were watching from the front steps. William Lloyd Garrison was watching from the balcony of a building which used to be the Unitarian headquarters, and a report says he had placed his hand on a bust of John Brown. They marched down the other side of Beacon Hill, went to the waterfront, and boarded ships headed for South Carolina. Many never came back.
Shaw and about a third of the soldiers were killed in an attempt to take Fort Wagner. One of the black soldiers won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his part in the battle. The Confederates dumped Gould's body in a pit with the bodies of blacks, thinking that was a disgraceful way to be buried. Gould's father said that being buried with the bodies of his men was a high honor.
The monument was created by noted sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. If you ever come to Boston, go see it.
There was a movie "Glory" about the Massachusetts 54th, it is well worth seeing.
cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)have seen Glory. Wasn't Denzel Washington the star?
Thank you!
LeftInTX
(24,554 posts)Right here in my town
LeftInTX
(24,554 posts)LeftInTX
(24,554 posts)cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)True American shero!
Wounded Bear
(58,440 posts)Please proceed.
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)This totally triggered the alt-right. I wish they'd issue a dollar coin or maybe a limited quarter face rendition of this so everybody could afford one!
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)need to study them! Must be an inspiring story!
FSogol
(45,357 posts)cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)Thank you!!
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)G_j
(40,366 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)I didn't even know about most of these!
Individual responsibility for us all (myself included, clearly) to make sure we learn this important history. I took a self-guided journey through local Native American history when I had a job position in that community. I see a huge gap also in my knowledge of AA history, which I regret.
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)Thank you!
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)and a museum at Tuskegee
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)irisblue
(32,829 posts)See post 5
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)wishstar
(5,267 posts)This article has a picture and description of some of the content of the monument, including slave ship, references to Jim Crow, etc. Right wingers have signed petition against the monument
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/nearly-40000-demand-south-carolina-remove-slave-memorial-because-it-shames-whites/
hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)nearly 50,000 SC whites have petitioned to have it removed because it makes them feel shamed.They'll even take down the statehouse confederate flag if the memorial goes. Big of them, huh?.
cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)Awe-inspiring. Will research this to learn more about it!
Thank you!
blackdove78
(35 posts)There's a monument and her last home in Battle Creek. Battle Creek also has an underground railroad monument.
watrwefitinfor
(1,399 posts)Actually, there are quite a number of statues of her, all over the Northeastern states, especially Massachusetts and New York. I liked this one. That does look like a puddle in front of her, as she waits for some gentleman to throw down his cloak for her to step over.
Here's one of the websites (there are many more):
http://www.wmmga.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=101643&module_id=227884
Wat
demmiblue
(36,746 posts)The Detroit sculpture component features two gateway pillars that bracket a ten foot by twelve foot sculpture with nine slaves and a railroad 'Conductor' looking and pointing toward Canada in anticipation to board the boat across the Detroit River to safety. This assemblage is installed in Hart Plaza on the bank of the Detroit River, on the existing river front promenade.
The Windsor installation features a twenty-two foot high granite Freedom Tower that also serves as a candle representing the Internal Flame of Freedom. On the Canadian side are a male slave giving thanks and a female slave holding a baby. A female Canadian Underground Railroad conductor is welcoming them both to safety. On the U.S. side of the tower is a small slave girl, nostalgically looking back toward America. This component is installed near the River Front Drive on the City of Windsor promenade.
http://www.eddwight.com/memorial-public-art/international-underground-railroad-memorial-detroit-mi-windsor-canada
demmiblue
(36,746 posts)It represents the power of his punch both inside and outside the ring. Because of Louis' efforts to fight Jim Crow laws, the fist was symbolically aimed toward racial injustice.[3] Graham referred to the sculpture as a "battering ram".[4] It is claimed to be an historical metaphor, even down to its placement (pointing toward Canada).[5]
The sculpture was vandalized by two white men in 2004, who covered it in white paint and left a sign which read, "Courtesy of Fighting Whities".[4] Graham responded that the piece was "working" if it aroused passion.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_Joe_Louis
cilla4progress
(24,587 posts)watrwefitinfor
(1,399 posts)Medgar Evers, Jackson, MS
Located at:
4215 Medgar Evers Blvd, Jackson, MS 39213
Cross Streets: Near the intersection of Medgar Evers Blvd and Liberty St
Wat
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)kwassa
(23,340 posts)Dorchester County, Maryland
?fit=800%2C600
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)It honors the Massachusetts 54th, some of whom I think were escaped slaves.