Outside the Beltway

A Photo for Friday

"Weight of the Past"

Steven L. Taylor · Friday, June 4, 2021 · 7 comments

“Weight of the Past”

May 29, 2021

National Memorial for Peace and Justice

Montgomery, AL

FILED UNDER: Photo for Friday, Photography

About Steven L. Taylor

Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

OzarkHillbilly says:

Friday, 4 June 2021 at 08:52

My first thought: “Whoa…”

Well done.

1
Steven L. Taylor says:

Friday, 4 June 2021 at 10:06

@OzarkHillbilly: It a somber and emotionally effecting place–a memorial to lynching in the US. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit.

2
al Ameda says:

Friday, 4 June 2021 at 11:14

Extremely moving. Steven.
Do they put a name (the victim’s name) each of the ’tiles’ ?

1
Steven L. Taylor says:

Friday, 4 June 2021 at 11:53

@al Ameda: Each of the boxes (which evoke simple caskets to me) is from a specific county. On each of the boxes is the name and date of those lynched in that county.

For example: here and here.

I would say this (along with the Viet Nam Memorial in DC) to be the most appropriate and moving memorials I have ever seen.

2
OzarkHillbilly says:

Friday, 4 June 2021 at 17:01

@Steven L. Taylor: It’s been on my list ever since it opened. Thanx for the recommendation tho as it just adds to my determination to head that way.

1
Steven L. Taylor says:

Friday, 4 June 2021 at 18:29

@OzarkHillbilly: If you do make it to town, plan to visit the Rosa Parks Museum (on our Montgomery campus and very close to the Memorial as well as the SPLC).
de stijl says:

Sunday, 6 June 2021 at 07:18

Sweet!

I liked that. Obviously physical yet meta.