National Memorial for Peace and Justice

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, also called the National Lynching Memorial, remembers the African American people who suffered terrible harm during a very sad time in the United States. It was created to help people understand and remember the painful history of unfair treatment and to work toward a fairer future for everyone. The memorial was started by a group called the Equal Justice Initiative and opened in downtown Montgomery, Alabama on April 26, 2018.

The memorial has a special space with 805 steel shapes hanging from above. Each shape stands for one of the U.S. counties where records show that unfair and violent acts happened. There are also sculptures that show ideas about unfair treatment and working for peace.

Many people, including experts on buildings, activists, and everyday visitors, think the memorial is very important and powerful. Philip Kennicott from The Washington Post said it is one of the most strong and good new memorials made in many years.

Background

Further information: Lynching in the United States

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice was created by the Equal Justice Initiative in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. It opened to the public on April 26, 2018. The memorial is connected to The Legacy Museum, which opened the same day. The memorial aims to help people understand the history of unfair treatment and injustice faced by Black communities in America.

The memorial includes powerful sculptures and displays created by artists. There are also words from important writers and leaders. A special space for quiet thought honors Ida B. Wells. The main part of the memorial has 805 steel beams, each representing a place where unfair and violent acts happened. The beams carry the names of those who suffered, helping us remember their stories.

Description

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is a powerful place to remember and honor the lives of many people who suffered because of unfair treatment long ago in the United States. It has 805 steel shapes that look like they could hold a person, each standing for a place where terrible acts happened. These shapes carry the names and dates of the people who were hurt.

The memorial was created to help everyone see and think about these sad parts of history. There is also a special artwork that shows people raising their arms, reminding us to notice and care about unfair treatment that still happens today. The area around the memorial has places to sit and think, and it also honors people who worked hard to tell the truth about what happened. The goal is for each place remembered to have its own memorial to keep teaching about these important lessons.

Central monuments

Nkyinkyim by Kwame Akoto-Bamfo

The Memorial has three main parts. The first part begins to tell the story of African Americans by showing the difficult journey they faced. Visitors first see a sculpture by Ghanaian artist Kwame Akoto-Bamfo called Nkyinkyim, meaning "twisted." This sculpture shows seven figures of different ages and genders linked together. It is part of a larger project where Akoto-Bamfo creates clay busts of people who were once enslaved, aiming to honor their memories. This tradition is common among the Akan people in Ghana.

Guided by Justice by Dana King

American artist Dana King created Guided by Justice, which shows a key moment from the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the Civil Rights Movement. The sculpture shows three women: a grandmother, a teacher, and a pregnant woman. Footprints near them invite others to join their cause. The sculpture reminds us that many people, not just famous ones like Rosa Parks, helped make a difference.

Raise Up by Hank Willis Thomas

The memorial continues with Hank Willis Thomas's sculpture Raise Up, which shows ten Black men in a difficult situation. The sculpture connects to today's struggles for fairness and freedom, reminding us that the fight for justice continues.

Importance for Montgomery

Before the 1990s, the city of Montgomery did not fully acknowledge the lasting effects of slavery and racism, even though it had many monuments about the Confederacy. The city has since created a Civil Rights trail to remember important events like the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. The opening of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in 2018 brought attention to the city, with the New York Times naming it one of the top destinations of that year. Local leaders believe the memorial helps people understand a difficult part of American history.

The memorial’s opening drew thousands of visitors to Montgomery, with famous musicians like Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, and Usher performing, and important figures such as U.S. Congressman and civil rights movement activist John Lewis speaking. The _Montgomery Advertiser also apologized for its past reporting on painful events. The memorial and its museum are expected to bring many more visitors to the city each year.

The Legacy Museum

Main article: The Legacy Museum

The Legacy Museum opened on the same day as the outdoor memorial. It shows the history of slavery and unfair treatment of Black people in America. The museum also talks about how many Black people are unfairly treated by the justice system today.

The museum has artwork by many artists. One display has soil from places where unfair and painful events happened to Black people in the past. The museum is big and has many stories, old items, and technology to help visitors learn.