National Liberty Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Liberty Memorial (proposed) |
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 National Liberty Memorial (proposed)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Established | Proposed |
| Governing body | National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. |
The National Liberty Memorial is a planned monument in Washington, D.C.. It will honor more than 5,000 enslaved and free African Americans who helped during the American Revolutionary War. These brave people served as soldiers or sailors, or gave civilian help.
This memorial idea grew from an earlier attempt to build a Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial. That project was approved in 1986, but the group behind it closed down in 2005. Later, in January 2013, the U.S. Congress officially approved the National Liberty Memorial.
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Why a Memorial Was Needed
In 1980, Lena Santos Ferguson, an African American woman, wanted to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This group is for people whose ancestors fought in the American Revolutionary War. Even though Lena had great proof of her family's history and her ancestor's role in the war, she couldn't find two members to sponsor her.
A DAR member named Margaret Johnston said it was clear that Lena was "not welcome because she is black." The DAR's national president, Sarah King, admitted that Black people were not being allowed to join.
In 1983, Lena was given "limited" membership. This meant she couldn't vote or join a local group where most of the work was done.
After the city government of Washington, D.C., threatened to remove the DAR's tax breaks, Lena became a full member.
The DAR and Lena then made an agreement. The DAR would help minority groups join. They would also state that all people, no matter their race, could join. The DAR also agreed to offer scholarships to students in D.C. and teach its members about the important role African Americans played in the Revolutionary War. Most importantly, the DAR agreed to support a plan for a national memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor these African American patriots.
The First Idea: Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial
At the same time, people in Congress were also pushing for a memorial. The idea started with Representative Nancy Johnson from Connecticut. Her bill was meant to honor Black Revolutionary War patriots. This idea came from Maurice Barboza, Lena Ferguson's nephew.
Congress quickly approved the bill, and President Ronald Reagan signed it into law in 1984. Seeing this support, Barboza asked Johnson to propose a law for a physical memorial. She agreed. Senator Al Gore also agreed to support a similar law in the Senate.
After only 17 months, the bill passed. President Reagan signed the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Act into law in 1986. This law said that government money could not be used to build the memorial. Instead, a group called the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial Foundation was created. This group would raise money to build the memorial.
The foundation chose Constitution Gardens on the National Mall as the memorial's location. This area is near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. In 1988, a new law allowed the memorial to be built in "Area 1," which includes the National Mall. This law gave the foundation seven years to raise money, get the design approved, and start building.
The foundation faced many challenges. They struggled to raise enough money. The design of the memorial also caused problems. In 1990, an architect suggested a large plaza with seven 13-foot-tall statues of African American soldiers. However, the United States Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), which approves designs for memorials, rejected it. They thought it was too big compared to other nearby memorials. They suggested a "landscape solution" instead of statues.
A new design was chosen, featuring a granite block with figures of African American soldiers. The CFA liked this design but kept asking for changes. The sculptor, Edward Dwight, felt that some officials didn't want to see "black faces on the National Mall." The approved design ended up being very small and didn't attract much financial support.
The time limit to build the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial ran out in 2005. The foundation ran out of money and closed down.
The National Liberty Memorial Today
Even as the first memorial project was struggling, a new law was passed in 2003. This law, called the Commemorative Works Clarification and Revision Act, made it harder to build new memorials in "Area 1" without special approval.
In 2005, Maurice Barboza started a new group called the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. This group aimed to honor African Americans (enslaved and free) who helped in the American Revolutionary War. They also wanted to honor those who sought their freedom during that time.
In 2006, Senator Chris Dodd introduced a new law to approve this memorial. This new law simply referred to "slaves and other persons who fought" in the war. Barboza asked for the old memorial's site approval to be transferred to the new National Liberty Memorial, but it was not approved at that time.
After several attempts, Congress finally approved the National Liberty Memorial on January 2, 2013. The law stated the memorial would honor "slaves and free black persons who served in the American Revolution" as soldiers, sailors, or civilians. The National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. was given permission to build it. They were also allowed to start raising private money for the project. Once built, the memorial would be given to the U.S. government.
Under the rules, the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. has seven years (until January 2, 2020) to raise the money and get all the necessary approvals for the memorial's location and design.
Early Design Ideas and Location
The National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. hired sculptor David Newton to create an early design for the memorial. Newton's idea shows an African American father, mother, and child. The father has a rifle, but he is not shown as a soldier. The mother points towards the nearby Lincoln Memorial. The child wears a tricorne hat and plays a drum.
In July 2013, the foundation suggested possible locations for the memorial. They looked at 43 spots before choosing five top choices. These included areas near the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Department of the Interior building. They also considered Walt Whitman Park, Freedom Plaza, and a site next to the Jamie L. Whitten Building (the main building for the United States Department of Agriculture).
After reviewing these options, the foundation asked for the site at the Whitten Building to be approved. This location received support from Senators Chuck Grassley and Chris Murphy. Because the Whitten site is in "Area 1," a very protected part of the National Mall, Congress had to approve its use.
On September 26, 2014, President Barack Obama signed a law allowing the National Liberty Memorial to be placed on the National Mall next to the Department of Agriculture Building. This law also extended the time to begin construction until 2021.
- Pub.L. 112-239: Public Law 112-239, which officially established the memorial.
Images for kids
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This map shows Area I (inside the black border) of the National Capital Area. This is where the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial was planned to be built.
