Bending toward Justice: Falling Monuments and Rising Memorials

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice (NMPJ) opened in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 26, 2018. The memorial provides a sacred site where people can gather and reflect on America's history of racial injustice and represents an essential milestone in the ongoing process of racial reckoning in the United States. As Alabama has historically been a crucible for change in the fight for racial justice, it serves as a poignant site for this ongoing effort. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s observation that Montgomery, once the "Cradle of the Confederacy," was transforming into the "cradle of freedom and justice" reflects the city's continuing metamorphosis (King, 1998, p. 62). Against this backdrop, this article delves into the complex interplay of Confederate monuments, countermonuments, and public art, exploring how certain symbols shape narratives, perpetuate systemic racism, and become focal points in the ongoing struggle for justice. Additionally, this article further examines historical myths, educational narratives, and the intersection of art and activism, ultimately converging on the NMPJ as a transformative symbol and a beacon for a more equitable future.