Memorial

Millions of men, women, and children of African descent lived, worked, and died as enslaved people in the United States of America and should never be forgotten. In this area once stood one of two smokehouse rooms where three enslaved men, Giles, Paris, and Austin, slept. Its close proximity to the Liberty Bell Center underscores that liberty was not originally intended for all, even as men spoke passionately of liberty and freedom without recognizing the contradiction, injustice, and immorality of their actions. Enslaved Africans and their descendants endured brutality and mistreatment for over 200 years while their labor built and enriched the nation, and the struggle for freedom and political, social, and economic equality continued after the legal ending of slavery. The effects of slavery continue to shape race relations, yet the hope, resilience, and determination to rise from bondage to freedom endure, reflected in African symbols, words, quotations, and the remembrance of the many African peoples and places from which enslaved Africans descended.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · United States