Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications
Davy Hern. Fanny Gillette Hern. Bonnycastle Hern. Lily Hern. Ben Snowden.
These names have now been added to the University of Virginia’s Memorial to Enslaved Laborers. The memorial was created to be a living tribute to recognize and honor the enslaved laborers who built the University. UVA has committed to engaging with descendants to identify the families of the enslaved, and additional names will be included annually and unveiled during a “Descendants Day,” which is being planned.
Engineers from Gropen Inc., a local signage and design firm, sandblasted the new names into the wall on Jan. 6.
Local resident Myra Anderson brought to the attention of UVA administrators that her enslaved ancestors had worked at UVA (and Monticello), which kick-started the process to have these names added. Anderson is a 2020 Community Fellow with UVA's Equity Center.
Read more about the memorial and some of the people behind its creation here.
University News Associate Office of University Communications
anneb@virginia.edu (434) 924-6861
November 25, 2024
