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 special statue in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It stands near River Street, right by the Savannah River. This monument was put up in 2002. It honors African Americans and their history in the city. The monument shows four statues of an African American family. They stand on a tall stone base.
About the Monument
How It Was Created
Creating this monument took many years of hard work. A dedicated activist named Abigail Jordan led the effort. She spent decades trying to get a monument built. Before this, none of Savannah's many statues honored African Americans.
In 1998, the city's Historic Site and Monument Commission approved the idea. Then, the city council had to vote on it. In January 2001, the city council said yes to the monument. However, they paused on a decision about a quote. This quote by famous writer Maya Angelou was meant for the monument's base.
The quote caused some discussion. This was partly because the monument would be on the Savannah River promenade. This area is a very popular spot for tourists. Abigail Jordan worked hard to keep the monument in this important location. Some city leaders wanted it placed at a church instead.
A city council member, David Jones, felt the original quote was too sad. Savannah's Mayor, Floyd Adams Jr., also disagreed with it. In January 2002, Maya Angelou added a new line to her quote. The updated quote ended with: "Today, we are standing up together, with faith and even some joy." In May of that year, the city council agreed to this new version.
The monument cost $350,000 to build. The city paid $30,000 to prepare the site. The rest of the money came from donations. Dorothy Spradley was the artist who sculpted the monument.
Its Dedication
The African-American Monument was officially opened on July 27, 2002. In July 2019, a special plaque was added to the monument's base. This plaque tells the story of Abigail Jordan's important efforts to make the monument happen.
What It Looks Like
The monument is about 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall. It features four bronze statues. These statues show an African American family. They are dressed in modern clothes. The statues stand on a granite stone base. At the feet of the statues, you can see broken chains. These chains symbolize freedom from slavery.
