The conversation about how best to memorialize Virginia’s history of slavery has been going on for years. But Richmond took a big step last fall when they announced a contract with a DC based architecture firm to build a memorial. Now that firm is ready to get to work.
Smith Group JJR was behind the new National Museum of African American History in DC. And in October it was announced they would be tackling another historical project: the site of Richmond’s slave trade called Lumpkin’s Jail.
Architect Hal Davis is working on the project, which he says could take any form: a memorial, museum, or maybe even landscape.
“It’s an authentic archeological site, so we want to make sure that we have done the right thing for this particular project in honoring that site and learning from it," says Davis.
As part of figuring out what the right thing is, Davis will be in Richmond this week for a community meeting.
“So we’re going to be describing the various steps so the community can understand that, but more specifically we’re really interested in hearing the community’s feelings and thoughts,” he says.
If this sounds familiar, that’s because it’s happened before. In addition to previous city-led efforts to get input, a community-led organization has also hosted listening and planning sessions.
Davis says his group already has all that information in hand.
The first community meeting is Tuesday evening at Virginia Union University, from 5:30 to 8.
