A local group in Augusta, Georgia, is working hard to honor important Black figures from the city’s past. They’re doing this by putting up new monuments in the downtown area.
Augusta African American Historical Society Honors Local Heroes
The Augusta African American Historical Society leads this effort. Their goal? To teach people, especially young folks, about Augusta’s rich Black history.
The society was started 24 years ago by Edward McIntyre, who used to be the mayor. Now, they’re focused on sharing stories of influential Black people from Augusta’s past.
Georgia’s First Black Teacher Gets a Monument
One of the people they’re honoring is AR Johnson. He was Georgia’s first Black teacher. The society thinks it’s important for everyone to know about people like him.
Dr. Mallory Millender, a member of the society, said, “There are just loads of people like that with stories that our people need to know about. Everybody needs to know about.”
Plans for 50 Monuments Along Laney Walker Boulevard
The society has big plans. They’ve already put up 26 monuments on Laney Walker Boulevard. But they’re not stopping there. They want to have 50 monuments in total.
These monuments can be seen on Laney Walker Boulevard, from R.A. Dent Boulevard to 11th Street. It’s like an outdoor museum of Augusta’s Black history.
How the Society Chooses Who to Honor
Choosing who gets a monument isn’t a simple task. The society has a research committee that looks into each person’s history. They want to make sure they’re honoring people who made a real difference.
Another person they’re honoring is John Wesley Gilbert. He was a groundbreaking archaeologist, which means he studied old things people left behind.
How You Can Support This Important Work
If you want to help the society keep doing this important work, you can. They accept donations to help pay for new monuments and keep teaching people about Augusta’s Black history.
To donate, you can send money to: PO Box 456, Augusta, GA 30901. Every little bit helps them share these important stories with more people.
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