The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
Description
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, informally known as the National Lynching Memorial, is a national memorial to commemorate the black victims of lynching in the United States. It is intended to focus on and acknowledge past racial terrorism and advocate for social justice in America.
Ratings
Description
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, informally known as the National Lynching Memorial, is a national memorial to commemorate the black victims of lynching in the United States. It is intended to focus on and acknowledge past racial terrorism and advocate for social justice in America.
Posts
How do you even write about a place as powerful as this? It's well thought out, well laid out, absolutely beautiful and deeply sorrowful. It's a must-see for every American. I went during Covid in August, when the memorial was open and the gift shop and theater across the street but not the legacy museum. I had to get a ticket to enter in the gift shop (or I think you can do it online) but it is free to enter. You pass through security and start up a gradual slope past informational signs (of which you need to read every single one) and there's a group of statues on this first slope of a family/group of African slaves. At the top is a covered pavilion with metal boxes that list every county in the US where lynchings have occurred. At first, I found myself looking for states and counties I was familiar with but as you spiral through the space, the walkway slopes down while the memorials stay level so that you are forced to look at the names themselves. You naturally start to take your attention off yourself and onto the victims. As you spiral down, be sure to read all of the signs that highlight what some of the victims were lynched for. What got me are the crowds for some of them--up to 10-15 THOUSAND people would attend a lynching. In the bottom-most part, there is a water wall to commemorate all victims that go undocumented. There are steps here and it's a good place to pause and reflect. Exiting the pavilion is a courtyard where all the memorial boxes are placed in rows so you can more easily find your area (because at some point, some of the memorials are too high above you to read) then you circle around past more sculpture and back to the entrance (and a restroom.) Next to the entrance is a little colorful garden. I found it really helpful to walk around the color and the life after the heaviness of the memorial experience. Across the street, there is a theater showing short films from the currently closed museum. If you sit through all of them, it's a little more than an hour. (And it's a welcome break from the Alabama heat.) Currently (started July 21, 2020) you can also visit the memorial at night, Wed-Fri, 9-11. All the signs and statues are well lit and they even give you a little finger light (that you can keep!) to help you look around. The lighting at night is amazing. It illuminates the individual boxes so that the names of the victims glow from within. And overall the effect is almost magical. I recommend going during the day to make sure you can see everything, but a second pass at night is highly recommended.
I am so glad that a memorial dedicated to lynching victims was made and even more grateful to be able to visit. I went this past weekend with my boyfriend and had a very impactful time. We first walked over here after buying tickets at the Legacy Museum first. When you first walk in, you read about slavery and there are a few statues of African slaves in chains. Then as you ascend, you enter the memorial and you read the names and dates of lynching victims and the counties and states that the incidents occurred. It's one of those things that you knew happened, but when you are actually there and see the seemingly never-ending display of names, it becomes very, very real. You see how many people were lynched on the same day and how whole families were lynched. When you go, be sure to pay attention to the dates, because you can see how many people died on the same day or even how lynchings occurred every day for weeks at a time. As you explore, you see how even in "liberal" states that people were still lynched. Then as you descend, there is a wall of placards where you can read the reasons that people were lynched, for trivial things like "standing around," attempting to vote, asking for water and for being upset that someone else was lynched. Once you leave the exhibit and go back outside, there is a lady there who gives you water for free which was nice since it was really hot out. Then you can see all of the monuments that were hanging are now laid flat for you to view again. A very impactful experience that everyone should view to really understand our most painful aspects of American history.
This is a new wonder of a world 🌎 for all to enjoy and connect to the history of black culture and black Americans. From this place we can learn how to solve problems and rewrite policies that can govern our society. The historical record shows, how under supervisor of the police and their lack to protect their own prisoners, they allowed outsiders to trust pass and violate the laws to commit violent acts against citizens in their custody. Why not the police being held accountable. Is you encounter All these stories how black people were placed in trees as Christmas ornaments, these police stations allowed this to happen under their watch. These police stations owe these families for damages even if their loved ones were guilty. Once under police custody one is safe from outsiders. It’s left to the courts to decide whether one is guilty or innocent. Until this question is addressed, no solution will set the record straight. We need the police like we need air and water to live. But we need for everything to be clean in order to live a healthy life. History is hard however we need to know the story so that it doesn’t happen again. This is a must see place. This makes America 🇺🇸 the greatest place to live. No one Ever mentions that. How the police turned to blindfolded themselves
This was an AMAZING experience and opportunity for me and my family! I recently found out, my Great Great Grandfather's name is incorporated into this memorial. I was able to organize a 4 hour trip, so that my 97 year old Grandmother could see her Grandfather's name on the columns. 😭😭😭😭 It was an experience we all will never forget, especially to know that he is not forgotten and represented in some way. It doesn't make up for his life being taken, but it meant something to our family. The staff here was AMAZING! They were very accommodating to us, and especially to my Grandmother. The grounds and memorial is a little overwhelming, because there's so many, but definitely worth it! Wear comfortable shoes, because it is a lot of walking to cover everything. We would definitely recommend this as a place to visit!
This Memorial is a very important and lovely addition to Downtown Montgomery. This Memorial is dedicated to the Lynching victims. I'm a native of this city and I think we're well overdue for the history of Black Americans and the untold history of slavery and the treatment of humans overall. This Memorial is unapologetic and puts the history of racism directly in your face. The countless lives tragically lost, the henious ways of which they were taken, their names, counties and started off which the LYNCHINGS happened. . The memorial pays homage not only to those whose loves were brutally taken and documented but also to the thousands who were NOT reported and documented. It's quite beautiful, moving and haunting.
Incredibly powerful commemoration of the racially motivated lynchings committed against more than 4300 black citizens, mainly in the South, from 1877 to 1950. Set behind thick walls, which make you think about what it’s like to be trapped, the outdoor museum's centerpiece is 805 steel rectangles, said to be the size of coffins. They are fixed to the ceiling by steel rods, so they look like they’re hanging. Given the subject matter, visitors mostly are respectfully quiet if not silent, giving the memorial the hushed feel of a library. Young docents are around to offer information to visitors, supplementing the well-crafted signage, in case people are too shy to ask.
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Nearby Restaurants Of The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
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Wintzell's Oyster House

Chris' Famous Hotdogs

Bibb Street Pizza Company

SaZa Serious Italian Food