Slavery Memorial (Brown University) facts for kids
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| Location | Brown University |
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| Designer | Martin Puryear |
The Slavery Memorial is a special sculpture at Brown University. It helps everyone remember the university's past links to slavery in the 1700s. It also reminds us of the trade of enslaved people across the Atlantic Ocean.
The famous artist Martin Puryear designed this memorial. It was officially opened in 2014. You can find it on the university's Front Green. It stands right next to University Hall.
Contents
What the Memorial Looks Like
The Slavery Memorial is made from strong cast iron. It shows a heavy cast-iron ball and chain. Part of this chain is buried in the ground. One of the chain links is broken into two pieces.
There is a stone plaque in front of the memorial. It shares an important message:
- This memorial honors Brown University's connection to the slave trade.
- It also honors the work of African and African-American people. Many were enslaved, others were free.
- These people helped build Brown University, Rhode Island, and the United States.
In 2003, Brown's President Ruth Simmons started a study. This study looked into the university's history with slavery. In the 1700s, slavery was a big part of life in Rhode Island. People from Rhode Island were very involved in the slave trade. They sent over a thousand ships to trade enslaved people before 1808. Brown University gained benefits from this trade.
How the Memorial Was Created
In 2003, President Ruth Simmons started a special group. This group researched Brown's connections to slavery in the 1700s. In 2006, the group shared what they found.
Planning the Memorial
The university then set up a new group in 2007. This group decided how to best remember this history. They looked at other memorials, like the Civil Rights Memorial. They also studied the African Burial Ground National Monument.
In 2012, the university's leaders all agreed. They chose Martin Puryear to design the sculpture.
Choosing the Location
At first, the university thought about putting the memorial in the Jewelry District. This area was near a planned medical campus. But a university group decided on the Front Green instead.
This spot is easy to see. It is also close to University Hall. Enslaved workers helped build University Hall a long time ago.
Installation and Dedication
The memorial was put in place during the summer of 2014. President Christina Paxson officially opened it on September 27, 2014.
