At a public Town Hall on the creation of a United States Colored Troops monument in Natchez in November, the discussion was interrupted by several participants using an anti-Black racial epithet according to a published report. The effort to stop the discussion failed, although it left many other participants shocked.
Natchez, like many Southern cities, is looking to pay tribute to the Black soldiers who helped to free it from Confederate military control. The monument will honor the men of the 6th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, the 58th U.S. Colored Infantry, the 63rd U.S. Colored Infantry, the 64th U.S. Colored Infantry, the 70th U.S. Colored Infantry, and the 71st U.S. Colored Infantry. The planning for the memorial is still at an early stage.
Here is video of a city council hearing later in the month in which both the USCT and another monument are discussed.
Follow Reconstruction Blog on Social Media:
Mr. Young,
Thank you for this report. It is appreciated.