So this weekend I was able to visit a memorial/sculpture/installation I have been wanting to see since its making. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
Its more incredible than I thought. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp5Y6hia7a0
Rarely do I find I am excited to see art, but I have read about this work, seen videos on it, and knew how powerful it and art can truly be when done in a thoughtful way. Every view was intriguing and as I inched towards it with my sister, I was so thankful we had the time to spend to see what I knew would be impactful and something I would never forget.
Growing up in New Orleans, you are surrounded by history both good and bad regarding how we as humans have and still do treat other humans.
Yet it feels like we have learned nothing and continue to listen to respond versus listen to understand.
As an educator, you must listen to understand so you know how to teach each and every student that comes into your presence.
As you walk towards the monument you are met by cast concrete figures that are crusty with patina flaking off like soil they would have been covered in. Expressions of torment and desperation that is amplified by the heat of the Alabama sun, even in September that had us saying damn its hot!
and as you turn the corner you start to hear the rush of water coming from somewhere nearby.
Until you reach these Corten steel pillars, each representing bodies that were lynched from different counties and parishes from different states.
You can wonder thru them and compare your body to theirs when you realize there are many names on most of them, names that are no longer. Names that were taken away too soon and for no reason.
As you walk through they begin to get higher and higher until they were clear above you.
underneath...
And then you got to why they were lynched......
for handing a white woman a note or for knocking on a white woman's door,
alleged robbery,
for voting...
and then you see the water they you hear and hope it washes away everything ugly in our world...
my home parish in Louisiana...
And when you walk out to the middle of the monument, you are surrounded by our past.....
These are the same pillars finally laid to rest as they were never allowed...
Art has more power than we give it credit to often speak for those that cannot.
Especially sculpture.
Bronze cast can feel like flesh, hot, and cold at the same time. It captures the space for which others have passed through and makes us remember.
