Tennent Houston| Augusta

Augustas Confederate Monuments and Landmarks Task Force has recently made public its recommendations to the city government, one of which is the removal of the Confederate monumentfrom Broad Street. Mayor Hardie Davis is to be commended for approaching the volatile issue of historic structures and names in such a measured and reasonable manner.

But I think there is a much better solution than moving the existing monument. Instead, leave this statue in place but also erect an equally grand and prominent monument, perhaps on upper Broad Street, to the Black struggle for equality and to their contributions to our community and country.

We should note that while Springfield Village Park already recognizes the rich heritage of the historic church of that name and other Black citizens of Augusta, we lack a suitably prominent monument to recognize the magnitude of what Augustas Black citizens have suffered through the injustices of slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, discrimination and racism. Nor do we have an appropriate monument to recognize the importance of what they have contributed to our citys long history.

So why dont we work together to build a grand counterpoint to the Confederate memorial, perhaps on upper Broad Street, to honor our Black citizens? Would not these complementary bookends better reflect the hopes and aspirations of Augusta today? Wouldnt it be better for us all to work together constructively to make our city better? I believe that such an effort would enjoy such broad and enthusiastic support and would be an effort in which we could all take pride.

Tennent Houston, Augusta

Excerpt from:

Letter to the editor: Honor Black citizens with grand counterpoint to Confederate monument - The Augusta Chronicle