Franklin, Tennessee has been engaged in a remarkable process of uncovering and displaying its history. Last month, the mid-sized city installed historical plaques explaining its history of slavery, emancipation, and Reconstruction. This month it is unveiling a monument to African Americans who were enslaved in the city. The effort is being led by “Franklin’s Charge,” a local non-profit organization. You may be familiar with the “Battle of Franklin Trust,” which leads Civil War preservation efforts. Eric Jacobson of the Trust is also on the board of “Franklin’s Charge.” If you are in the area, you may want to head to Franklin on Nov. 9, 2019 for the unveiling.
From the Williamson Herald:
Franklin’s Charge will host a powerful and uplifting ceremony on Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. to unveil a monument to the enslaved at the McGavock Cemetery at historic Carnton.
A program that reflects on the history and trauma of the enslaved will begin following a prayer and hymn. Local historian Thelma Battle will present the story of Carnton Plantation, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Brad Perry, a descendant of an owner of the enslaved, will provide a family perspective followed by a perspective of descendants of enslaved, Dr. Reggie Mason and Miss Tennessee Brianna Mason. A reading of descendants will be provided by Carolyn Worthy and Tangie Lane.
Lamont Turner, chair of the unveiling ceremony and a board member of Franklin’s Charge, shared that Elder John Haynes of Burns Tabernacle Church, Ronda Anderson and Antheia Anderson helped form a community choir made up of local church choir members which will share spiritual music applicable to the time period of the enslaved. Alma McLemore also coordinated other area churches’ involvement with the ceremony.
“This experience has both tested and strengthened my faith in humanity,” Turner said. “Engaging in history can be a skeptical process, especially when particular groups have historically controlled the narrative. Our unveiling committee, which is made up of different races, genders and generations, has demonstrated the healing potential of engaging in our shared history together.
“At our first unveiling meeting, walls of distrust fell down and bridges of trust were built by simply having an honest conversation. The skepticism and controversy surrounding history in 2019 are symptoms of our society not having honest conversation. The unveiling is another healing step in helping our community heal.”
For more info on the ceremony, click here.
More on Franklin’s history projects.
Photo above shows the monument prior to uunveiling.
Follow Reconstruction Blog on Social Media:
My slave ancestor the Charles Whitesides (his mother Jane and brother Gus, who were eventually sold to a Texas slave trader) were on the plantation of Robertson Whiteside and his son Lafayette (Fate) Whiteside. The plantation was in William’s County, Franklin, TN. So any acknowledgment of this history would be a step in the right direction.
Is this part of the effort to “contextualize”, instead of removing, Confederate monuments?
Sorry Bob Jaissle, I don’t know the group’s position on contextualization or removal.