A Bench By The Road

Toni Morrison wrote in 1989 that there was no place to remember the presences and absences of slaves, no suitable memorial, and no small bench by the road. In honor of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, the Toni Morrison Society launched the Bench by the Road Project. This bench honors the descendants of slaves who placed Hattiesburg at the forefront of the battle for freedom. During the Freedom Summer of 1964, these twentieth-century warriors made their headquarters in the homes and offices of Mobile Street and from there insisted on justice, equality, and enfranchisement for African Americans. They would not be denied and ultimately prevailed, leaving as their legacy the honor and dignity of all Americans.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi · United States