A symbol of remembrance

The Memorial to African Americans Enslaved by William & Mary will honor the legacies of women and men held in slavery by the university.

The memorial was one of the recommendations made by the committee of the Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation. Established in 2009, the Lemon Project was born out of a call to action to acknowledge and rectify wrongs against African Americans at W&M, whether through action or inaction.

The names of the enslaved will be inscribed into the memorial, which will be a brick structure that resembles a fireplace. The concept for the memorial is titled “Hearth” and was created by William Sendor ’11.

“The hearth is an ancient, powerful symbol of home, of community, and of belonging,” President Katherine Rowe said. “The exploited labor of enslaved African Americans helped create William & Mary, and this memorial concept will unequivocally recognize their lasting contributions to this institution, with humility, gratitude and conscience.”

Read more about the memorial in the Washington Post.

To support the memorial project, make a gift online.