African-American Monument facts for kids
The monument in 2015.
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 32°04′54″N 81°05′27″W / 32.081711°N 81.090884°W |
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| Location | River Street, Savannah, Georgia, United States |
| Designer | Dorothy Spradley |
| Material | Bronze Granite (pedestal) |
| Height | 11 feet (3.4 m) |
| Dedicated to | African Americans |
The African-American Monument is a public monument in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located near River Street along the city's waterfront with the Savannah River, the monument was dedicated in 2002 in honor of African Americans in the city. The monument consists of four statues depicting an African American family atop a granite pedestal.
History
Background and creation
Efforts towards erecting the monument was spearheaded by Abigail Jordan, an African American activist from the city who spent several decades trying to get the monument created. According to a 2001 article in the Los Angeles Times, "none of the more than 40 plaques, pillars and statues" in the city paid tribute to African Americans. In 1998, the city's Historic Site and Monument Commission approved the monument and passed the proposal on to the city council to vote on it. In January 2001, the city council approved the monument, but deferred action on a decision regarding a quote by Maya Angelou that would appear on the base of the monument. At the time, the quote was considered controversial in part due to the monument's proposed location along the Savannah River promenade, which was one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city. Jordan claimed that she had fought back against the insistences of some city council members who proposed placing the monument at a church rather than the promenade. David Jones, an African American city council member at the time, had the following to say about the quote: “Maya Angelou’s description was a little far out. I myself wouldn’t want to be reminded of that every time I look at it. History . . . can hurt.” Savannah Mayor Floyd Adams Jr. was also opposed to the quote. In January 2002, Angelou submitted to the city council the following addition to the quote: "Today, we are standing up together, with faith and even some joy." This amended version of the inscription was unanimously agreed upon by the city council in May of that year.
In total, the cost of the monument was $350,000, with $30,000 provided by the city to prepare the site and the rest of the money raised through donations. The monument was sculpted by Dorothy Spradley.
Dedication and recent history
The monument was dedicated on July 27, 2002. In July 2019, a plaque was added to the base of the monument describing the efforts of Abigail Jordan to erect the monument.
Design
The monument, which stands approximately 11 feet (3.4 m) tall, consists of a bronze depiction of an African American family. These four statues, dressed in modern attire, stand atop a granite pedestal. At the statues' feet are broken chains.
