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Confederate Statues/Monuments

ways we can make this better

First, it’s important to acknowledge that historic preservation has a powerful role in telling the entire story of our difficult history. We certainly should not downplay or erase any of our history but rather create an honest and accurate account of the Confederacy, for example, within museums or other nonpublic spaces.

Second, every situation should be assessed individually. For example, a bust of Woodrow Wilson could possibly remain somewhere to acknowledge that he was the 28th president of the United States but, thanks to his segregationist policies, he probably shouldn’t have a public policy school named after him – a fact that Princeton University acknowledged when they renamed theirs in 2020.

Third, it’s equally important to provide context for every situation, as well as a detailed explanation of each. For example, instead of just removing The Freedmen’s Memorial, maybe tell the story of the unveiling celebration and the inspiring story of where the money for the monument came from.  

Fourth, we should erect more statues in honor of black heroes (plus others, like Indian Americans, who also suffered horribly under the fiery hell of savage racism). There are plenty to choose from –from Harriet Tubman, who worked as an Union Army spy, guided slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad, and planned and executed raids like the one along the Combahee River in South Carolina which freed more than 700 people, to Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, a black soldier who became a legend in Iraq when he saved six fellow soldiers, all while he was literally on fire, ultimately giving his life for his country.

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