Exploring the Design of UVA’s Memorial to Enslaved Laborers
Memorial to Enslaved Laborers
The memorial, dedicated Saturday, ensures that the hidden lives of enslaved laborers will now be publicly remembered for their importance to the University.
Saturday’s virtual dedication ceremony, postponed for a year due to COVID-19, will feature members of the UVA and local community, descendants of the enslaved and others who’ve supported this project.
Each detail, from the names carved in Virginia Mist granite to an ephemeral portrait’s watchful eye, was carefully selected to spark conversation and reflection of the past and the future.
The memorial won The Architect’s Newspaper’s Project of the Year award, as well as the top award for public and social impact, in addressing the nation’s “fraught history of race.”
A trip to the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers over the summer inspired Terrell Jana, the football team’s top receiver, to pay homage in an unexpected way.
Look back at the construction of the new memorial, which, even during a pandemic, has become a gathering and focal point for those reflecting on the history of slavery and speaking out against continued racism.
With groundbreaking complete, the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers is moving forward. The memorial’s design team discusses plans for bringing the memorial to life.