African American History
Dublin Core
Title
African American History
Description
The monuments and memorials grouped under this theme acknowledge the important contributions of African Americans to American history. Slavery is anchored in the commemorative works as part of the larger story of Black existence in the United States. Some monuments, such as South Carolina African-American History Monument and the Texas African American History Memorial, include bas-reliefs of enslaved men and women, signaling these states' role in slavery. Other memorials such as Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered, honor the ability of ordinary Black people in Alexandria, Virginia (a slave trade center in the United States) to survive and thrive despite slavery, racism, and white supremacy.
Updated January 26, 2026
Creator
Written by Grace Yasumura
Contributor
Renée Ater
Collection Items
South Carolina African-American History Monument (Columbia, South Carolina)
Two semicircular gray granite walls, inlaid with twelve bronze panels illustrating 300 years of African American history, frame an obelisk and pedestal. The twelve scenes of African American history include images of the Middle Passage, an African…
Texas African American History Memorial (Austin, Texas)
The monumental work includes two bronze walls featuring figural scenes celebrating 400 years of African Americans’ contributions to Texas history. Decorated on both front and back, Dwight includes depictions of African Americans engaged in the…
African-American Monument (Savannah, Georgia)
Situated on the tourist promenade of River Street, the monument depicts a Black family in contemporary dress. The father, mother, daughter, and son stand on broken chains, holding one another in a tight embrace. Along the base are engravings of ocean…
Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered (Alexandria, Virginia)
Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered is located in the African American Heritage Park, a nine-acre memorial park. The park was the site of a historic Black Baptist Cemetery, established in 1885, and later desecrated when the City of Alexandria…