Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about the National Memorial for Peace and Justice

The suspended steel beams at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice by Soniakapadia-Wikimedia

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about the National Memorial for Peace and Justice

The national memorial for peace and justice is a national historic site that was established to commemorate people of black descent who were victims of lynching in various parts of the United States of America. The National Memorial is located in Montgomery, Alabama, and was founded in April 2018. The memorial site seeks to bring to light the injustices done to black people in the past and advocate for racial justice across the country.

Therefore, the historic site plays a critical role in society by educating the masses on past history and what can be done to ensure it does not happen again. These top ten facts about the National Memorial for Peace and Justice will provide intriguing information about the historic site.

1. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice sits on six acres of land

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice sits on a large tract of land that allows visitors to explore the different features offered. The site has benches in different places where history enthusiasts can sit and reflect on the information about past racial injustices.

 Additionally, the large tract of land allowed the local communities to have a chance to display the monuments and work towards an era of justice and truth

2. The National Memorial was funded by private donors and investors

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice was established by the Equal Justice Initiative, human rights organisation formed by an activist, lawyer, and scholar known as Bryan Stevenson, and a non-profit law office. The non-governmental organisations raised around 20 million dollars which were used in the development and construction of the national memorial.

3.  The National Memorial feature 805 suspended steel beams

The suspended beams-Photo by Mitchell Griest on Unsplash

In the central position of the memorial square, 805 steel beams with the size and shape of coffins are hanged. Each beam has the name of the state and counties where the lynching of people of colour took place. The Equal Justice Initiative compiled the names.

Additionally, the steel rectangles contain the names of the lynching victims and the dates on which those lynchings took place. The unknown is written in place of the names of the victims who were not recognised. The beams often look like a forest with hanging bodies, and they are the first notable work done to honour lynching victims.

4. Families can look for names of their relatives in the beams

As the beams contain names of black people who were victims of white supremacy, families can look for names of their relations in the beams. Many visitors who have information about how their relatives died often find their names on the beams. This gives them a chance to learn more about their history and mourn their relatives.

5. Several artists made the sculptures in the memorial

Kwame Akoto-Bamfo’s Sculpture on slavery by Soniakapadia-Wikimedia

The Equal Justice Initiative partnered with several artists to create the sculptures that are distributed throughout the memorial. Kwame Akoto-Bamfo is one of the artists whose sculptures on slavery where black people of different sizes and genders are shackled together confront the visitors immediately they enter the memorial. This sculpture sets the mood as the visitors are led through a journey back in history from slavery and racial terror with monuments, text, and narratives. Guided by Justice by Dana Wills is another sculpture on the grounds that depicts the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the Civil Right Movement era. The sculpture shows three women who are advocating for a call to action. Hank Willis Thomas’s work on police violence and criminal justice are also displayed.

Furthermore, the national memorial also displays writings from Elizabeth Alexander, Dr Martin Luther King, and Toni Morrison.

6. The tour is self-guided

The tour of the monuments around the memorial is self-guided, which means visitors can look at the sculptures and writings at their own pace. This means that the visitors can get as much information as they can from the tour as they are not being rushed. This makes for an intriguing experience as there are benches where they can reflect on what they have learnt.

Additionally, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice is wheelchair accessible, which allows for persons with disability to also get a chance to explore the historic site and learn more about the injustices done to coloured people in the past.

7. Soil collection for the National Memorial for Peace and Justice

The Equal Justice Initiative partnered with MASS Design Group to collect soil from sites where lynching was documented around the United States. The soil samples are displayed on the memorial site.

The purpose of collecting soil samples was to ensure that the members of the community got more involved in the peace and reconciliation process. This is because the community members and members of the Equal Justice Initiative came together to collect the samples.

8. There are more than 4400 victims honoured in the National Memorial for Peace and Justice

The suspended beams have more than 4400 names of people of colour who were victims of lynching. However,  the number of people affected by racially-based criminal injustices is still high because there are other lynches that were not documented across the country.

9. Duplicate Monuments

The duplicate monuments found in the national memorial. Picture by Buster 7-Wikimedia

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice has duplicates of the steel monument hanging from the ceiling. The duplicates are placed in the ground, and the counties where the lynching took place can take them. By taking the duplicates, they show that they have confronted their past and help them reflect on their history.

10. Elizabeth Alexander’s poem known as `Invocation’

As the visitors exit the national memorial, they encounter Elizabeth’s poem known as Invocation. The poem shows that the lynching done to the African Americans will not be easily forgotten in American history. She further says that each name in the memorial will ensure that people do not forget about the dark history.