ANOTHER PUBLIC INTEREST VICTORY; St. Augustine Confederate Memorial Now Properly Contextualized

The City of St. Augustine City Commission and its Confederate Monument Contextualization Advisory Committee did the right thing -- contextualizing (not removing) the Ladies Memorial Association's eloquent, authentic, home-grown 1873/1879 memorial to their departed sons, brothers and husbands who perished in the Civil War.  

I walked through the Plaza de la Constitución late yesterday and saw their work (finally) installed.  

I agree with every word:

(Photo credit: Blake Romeyn Souder Copyright (c) 2019).

Democracy is under pressure from external forces, manipulating Americans and trying to divide us.  

In my lifetime, I never heard anyone use the word "traitors" to describe long-dead rank-and-file Civil War veterans.  That did not happen until Putin's Internet Research Agency sought to divide Americans.  (Read the Mueller report).  

St. Augustine did not fall for it. 

Our City voted to contextualized the Confederate memorial, a Solomonic compromise.  

While some are unhappy, our City did the right thing.  

As Burke Marshall said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall catch her from both sides."

This was the first biracial committee in the history of St. Augustine, something Dr. King and Dr. Hayling sought in 1963-64, but which City Commission finally unanimously approved in 2018.  It is the model of the dialogue on race that must now continue here.

Here's the NPR interview with Confederate Memorial Contextualization Committee Vice Chair Regina Gayle Phillips, Director of the Lincolnville Museum:

 The Committee was chaired by Thomas Jackson, vice chaired by Regina Gayle Phillips, and included a diverse, knowledgeable, fully "woke" group of experts, and I salute them:

Committee Member Background

J. Michael Butler, Ph.D.- Dr. Butler is a history professor with an emphasis on the civil rights movement and southern history.   He has published many works in the field.  He has experience in Pensacola and at the University of Mississippi working on contextualization topics to confront the meaning and importance of confederate imagery in the public sphere.  His work is contemporaneous to the topic at hand and his publications are directly on point.  We are fortunate to have Dr. Butler volunteer his academic and practical expertise to the committee.

Sharyn Wilson Smith Coley: Ms. Coley is a highly respected retired educator from the St. Johns County School system (36 years) and a Supervisor in the St. Johns Recreation Department for 21 years.  She is a lifelong resident of Lincolnville.   Her knowledge in education communications, cross generational community respect, and wisdom will help convey the committee’s work to the audience.

Regina Gayle Phillips: Ms. Phillips is the Director of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center.  The work of the committee will most likely create a much broader understanding of the public history surrounding the civil war period.  The museum is in a position to capture, preserve and tell a deeper story than what results on the Plaza.   She and her husband endured much racism and hate throughout their lives and built successful careers.  Her first-hand experience in the underlying issues that face society and her commitment to public history at the museum make her an excellent committee member.

Thomas Graham, Ph.D.: Dr. Graham is the foremost historian and expert on the civil war period and history during the rise of the white supremacy movement.  He has published extensively.  Dr. Graham will be able to direct the research effort and “cut to the chase”.  Dr. Graham was the most immediate and obvious choice for recommendation.

Susan Parker, Ph.D.: Dr. Parker is one of the foremost experts in all of St. Augustine History.  Her research dates to the 1500s to contemporary times.  She has served in many capacities including the Director of the St. Augustine Historic Society.  Dr. Parker is also a lifelong resident of St. Augustine and has extensive teaching experience throughout her career.  The committee needs members that will put in the hard work of research and volunteer hours.  Dr. Parker has a demonstrated track record of this type of dedication.  She understands that by working on the confederate memorial contextualization committee, we are continuing the work on unresolved social issues.  Dr. Parker would round out the academic profile of the committee members.

Elizabeth Dove: Ms. Dove is a history faculty member at Flagler College.  She is a relatively new faculty member and relocated from the Northeast United States.  She holds a Master of Arts in American History and a Masters certification in Museum Studies with more than 35 years’ experience working and leading museums (mostly military) from coast to coast.  She retired from the federal government in September 2016 as the Director of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, an accredited museum.  She also was the Director of the Presidio Museum in San Francisco and the Director of the Fort Polk Military Museum in Louisiana.  Her talent aligned to the Lincolnville Museum will be exciting to watch.

Thomas Jackson: Mr. Jackson is a Recreation Supervisor for St. Johns County and has been a lifelong resident and volunteer public servant. He holds a Masters of Public Administration.  His experience and resume in telling the African American History and experience is paramount to none.  He has demonstrated success in attaining public history goals.  A few examples include: founding member of the Fort Mose Historical Society, Chairman of the “Journey-450 Years of the African American Experience” exhibit, Chairman of the St. Benedict the Moore Restoration Committee, member of the City Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Chairman of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee and serves as an advisor to the Spuds-Elkton-Armstrong Gullageechee Community.  When Mr. Jackson is involved in a project, he commands the respect of the community.