Civil Rights Memorial facts for kids
 |
|
| Location | Montgomery, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Designer | Maya Lin |
| Material | Granite |
| Opening date | 1989 |
| Website | www.splcenter.org |
The Civil Rights Memorial is a special monument in Montgomery, Alabama. It was designed by a famous artist named Maya Lin. This memorial honors 41 brave people who lost their lives during the Civil Rights Movement. Their names are carved into a beautiful granite fountain. The memorial is supported by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that works for justice and equality.
Contents
Why This Memorial Matters
The names on the memorial are of people who were killed between 1954 and 1968. These years are very important in American history. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court made a big decision. They ruled that separating people by race in schools was against the law. This ruling was called Brown v. Board of Education. The year 1968 is when Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, was killed.
The monument was created by Maya Lin. She is also known for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.. The Civil Rights Memorial was officially opened in 1989.
The Design: Water and Hope
Maya Lin's design for the memorial uses water. She wanted the water to feel calming and healing. The idea came from a famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr. In his "I Have a Dream" speech, he said, "...we will not be satisfied 'until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream...'" This quote is carved onto the memorial. It reminds us of the Bible verse Amos 5:24.
The memorial is a fountain shaped like a slanted stone cone. A thin sheet of water flows over the smooth surface where the 41 names are carved. You can even touch the water! It feels smooth and quickly returns to its calm flow. This design shows the Civil Rights Movement's hope to end unfair racial separation and bring equality.
Visiting the Memorial
The Civil Rights Memorial is in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. You can find it at 400 Washington Avenue. It's in an open area in front of the Civil Rights Memorial Center. You can visit the memorial any time, day or night, for free.
The Civil Rights Memorial Center also offers tours for groups. These tours usually last about an hour. You can book a tour by appointment from Monday to Saturday.
The memorial is close to many other important historical places. These include the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor. You can also visit the Alabama State Capitol. Nearby are the spots where Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks famously refused to give up their bus seats in 1955. The Rosa Parks Museum is also just a few blocks away.
Honoring the Martyrs
The 41 people whose names are carved on the Civil Rights Memorial are known as "Civil Rights Martyrs." They gave their lives for the cause of civil rights.
Names on the Memorial
- Louis Allen
- Willie Brewster
- Benjamin Brown
- Johnnie Mae Chappell
- James Chaney
- Addie Mae Collins
- Vernon Dahmer
- Jonathan Daniels
- Henry Hezekiah Dee
- Roman Ducksworth Jr.
- Willie Edwards
- Medgar Evers
- Andrew Goodman
- Paul Guihard
- Samuel Hammond Jr.
- Jimmie Lee Jackson
- Wharlest Jackson
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Bruce W. Klunder
- George W. Lee
- Herbert Lee
- Viola Liuzzo
- Denise McNair
- Delano Herman Middleton
- Charles Eddie Moore
- Oneal Moore
- William Lewis Moore
- Mack Charles Parker
- Lemuel Penn
- James Reeb
- John Earl Reese
- Carole Robertson
- Michael Schwerner
- Henry Ezekial Smith
- Lamar Smith
- Emmett Till
- Clarence Triggs
- Virgil Lamar Ware
- Cynthia Wesley
- Ben Chester White
- Sammy Younge Jr.
The Forgotten
At the Civil Rights Memorial Center, there is also a display called "The Forgotten." This display lists 74 other people. It is believed they were also killed because of racially motivated violence between 1952 and 1968. Their names were not carved on the main memorial because there wasn't enough information about their deaths when the memorial was first built.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a los Derechos Civiles para niños
