Emancipation and Freedom Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emancipation and Freedom Monument |
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| Artist | Thomas Jay Warren |
| Completion date | 2021 |
| Medium | Bronze statues |
| Subject | Emancipation |
| Dimensions | 12 feet (3.7 m) (height) |
| Location | Brown's Island, Richmond, Virginia |
| 37°32′04″N 77°26′38″W / 37.5344°N 77.4439°W | |
The Emancipation and Freedom Monument is a special statue in Richmond, Virginia. It's located on Brown's Island. This monument was put in place on September 22, 2021. It shows two large bronze statues. These statues are about 12 feet tall. They show a man, a woman, and a baby who are now free. The woman holds a paper with the date January 1, 1863. This is the day when U.S. President Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation. This important paper declared many enslaved people free.
An artist named Thomas Jay Warren from Oregon designed this monument. Virginia Senator Jennifer McClellan helped make sure the statue was created. She said it's the first statue paid for by a state that celebrates emancipation in the United States. Emancipation means gaining freedom from slavery.
What the Monument Shows
The bottom part of the monument is called a pedestal. On this pedestal, you can find names, pictures, and stories. These are about ten Virginians. They were important people who lived both before and after emancipation. Their stories help us remember the journey to freedom.
Heroes Before Freedom
These people bravely fought for freedom or helped others before slavery ended.
- Mary Bowser: She was formerly enslaved. She became a spy for the Union army during the American Civil War.
- William Harvey Carney: He was a soldier and formerly enslaved person.
- Gabriel: He was an enslaved blacksmith who led a rebellion.
- Dred Scott: He was an enslaved man who went to court to try and gain his freedom. His case was called Dred Scott v. Sandford.
- Nat Turner: He was an enslaved preacher who led a rebellion.
Leaders After Freedom
These people helped build a better future after slavery ended. They worked for education and equal rights.
- Rosa Dixon Bowser: She was an educator and worked for women's rights.
- John Mercer Langston: He was a politician and helped lead schools.
- John Mitchell Jr.: He was a community activist, newspaper editor, and ran for political office.
- Lucy F. Simms: She was an important educator.
- Wyatt Tee Walker: He was a civil rights activist and a reverend.
Gallery
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Emancipation and Freedom Monument Pedestal 01
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Emancipation and Freedom Monument Pedestal 02
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Emancipation and Freedom Monument Pedestal 03
See also
