We would like to invite you to our Award Ceremony to be held on Saturday May 3, 2025, from 1-3pm at the Greenbelt Community Center, Room 201, 15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD. The Award Ceremony is co-sponsored by the Greenbelt Black History & Culture Committee. The student winners will present their award-winning essay, creative writing, or visual art. This event is free, open to the public, and no registration is required. The Greenbelt Community Center is a fully accessible building. If you are unable to attend, please check our website later for a summary of the ceremony.
Join Us for a Meaningful Book Discussion on Barracoon
The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project invites you to an engaging and thoughtful conversation about Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston. This powerful book recounts the true story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last known survivors of the transatlantic slave trade, in his own words. Through this discussion, we will explore themes of history, resilience, and community remembrance, while connecting them to our ongoing work of honoring those affected by racial violence in Prince George’s County.
In addition to the discussion, we will be joined by Evelyn D. Milton, a fourth-generation descendant of Osia and Innie Keeby, whose ancestors were brought to America aboard the Clotilda, the last known slave ship. Through her family’s powerful story, Evelyn will share a unique and personal connection to this pivotal chapter in American history.
Whether you’ve read the book or are simply interested in the conversation, we welcome you to join us as we reflect, learn, and build together.
The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project is honored and excited to congratulate the ten winners of our 2024 Racial Justice Essay and Creative Arts contest. Prince George’s County high school public, private, or homeschooled students were invited to submit an essay, creative writing, or visual artwork that addressed an historical or current racial justice issue. Over 80 entries were received from seven high schools across the county.
Jaelynn Walker smiles with her artwork and award.
Janelle Bassole challenges the audience with her essay.
Emmanuella Umoh’s impassioned presentation.
The students were celebrated at an awards program attended by their families, friends, teachers, and community members held at the Greenbelt Community Center on June 15, 2024. Students presented their inspiring essays, creative writing, and artwork to audience applause. Winners received certificates, commendations from local elected officials, and scholarships ranging from $1000 for first place to $100 for honorable mention.
Greenbelt Mayor Emmett Jordan welcoming the audience
We thank the Greenbelt Black History & Culture Committee, Greenbelt Recreation Department, and the City of Greenbelt for sponsoring our awards ceremony and Greenbelt Access Television for recording the ceremony.
We are especially grateful for the donations from community individuals and organizations that made the scholarships possible. We commend every student who entered their justice reflections in our contest.
We share the full list of 2024 contest winners here:
Creative Writing
Name
Award
Title
School
Shana McFadden
1st Place
“Oh Innocent Emmett”
Suitland High School
Marli Jones
2nd Place
“The Pipeline”
Frederick Douglass High School
Mikayla Hollis
3rd Place
“The School to Prison Pipeline”
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Essay
Name
Award
Title
School
Janelle Bassole
1st Place
“A Practice Built Off the Back of Suffering”
Laurel High School
Emmanuella Umoh
2nd Place
“The Power of Representation: Illuminating Paths to Racial Justice Through Media”
The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s public hearing for Prince George’s County will be held in partnership with the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project on Saturday, January 25th from 10am to 2pm at Bowie State University, and virtually. The stories of the four Black men who were victims of documented racial terror lynchings in PGC will be told, descendant testimonies will be heard, and expert witnesses on the impacts and will speak. An opportunity for Public Comment will be provided. Pre-registration is encouraged: Link to RSVP
The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 2019 by House Bill 307 and amended by House Bill 297 in 2021 and Senate Bill 478 in 2023. The MLTRC is authorized to research cases of racially motivated lynchings and hold public meetings and regional hearings where a lynching of an African American by a white mob has been documented. Home – Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission
“PGCLMP Book Discussion: Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words“
Join the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project (PGCLMP) for a discussion on Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words by Viola Ford Fletcher and Ike Howard. Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest survivor and last living witness of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, shares the journey and lasting impact of the Tulsa Massacre on her life.
In addition to the book chat, educator and author, Karen Gross, will join us for a special discussion on trauma.
The book is available in many media, at local libraries, independent, online and in person bookstores. If you plan to buy it, consider Black-owned/progressive independent bookstores in the area (e.g., Loyalty Books, Mahogany Books, My Dead Aunt’s Books, Politics and Prose, Sankofa, and Solid State).
Our 2025 racial justice essay and creative arts contest for high school students opens for submissions on 12/1/2024.
For detailed information on our 2025 Racial Justice Essay & Creative Arts Contest, including how to upload submissions, visit: https://pgclmp.org/racial-justice-contest/.
This contest is for Prince George’s County public, private, and homeschool students, grades 9-12.
If you have questions or suggestions, or need additional information about the contest, please contact Lula at lulabeatty@verizon.net.
The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project is honored and excited to congratulate the winners of our 2023 Racial Justice Essay and Creative Arts contest. Each of our nine award winners is a Prince George’s County high school public, private, or homeschooled student.
Winners Jessica Kennerly, A’nya Vest, Ismael Mercado Cruz, Tami Ademumo, Amber Ware, Dorothy Quanteh, Bria Pruden and Carissa Nwabueze pose with Greenbelt Mayor Emmet Jordan at the awards ceremony.
The students were celebrated at an awards program attended by their families, friends, teachers, and community members held at the Greenbelt Community Center on June 17, 2023. Students presented their essays, creative writing, and artwork to audience applause. We thank the Greenbelt Black History & Culture Committee, Greenbelt Recreation Department, and the City of Greenbelt for sponsoring our awards ceremony and Greenbelt Access Television for recording the ceremony.
Student winners received certificates and scholarship money for their future educational pursuits. In addition, winners were invited to attend the Hurston/Wright Foundation Summer Writer’s Workshop at Howard University. We are grateful for the donations from community individuals and organizations that made the scholarships possible. We commend all students who entered their justice reflections in our contest.
PGCLMP Co-Secretary Lula Beatty calls the names of the four documented lynching victims.Bria Pruden, a student from Suitland High School, and the 3rd place visual arts contest entry.First place essay contest winner Tami Ademumo of Frederick Douglass High SchoolAudience members listen to Sherri Arnold
A full list of this year’s winners can be found below.
Did you miss our community remembrance ceremony for Thomas Juricks? Did you attend and want to relive the reverent, special time? Are you looking to see how a similar event for your own community might be structured?
We thank our partners at the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project (and its founder and director Will Schwartz) for capturing the ceremony in full. Watch below.
On March 11, 2023, members of the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project, the Chapel Hill Citizen Association, and youth volunteers and their mentors from Union Bethel Church gathered at the lot adjoining Grace United Methodist Church in Fort Washington to collect soil in remembrance of the life and tragic death of Thomas Juricks, at the approximate site of his death. On October 12, 1869, Juricks became the victim of a racial terror lynching in Piscataway; he is the earliest known victim in Prince George’s County.
On April 15, 2023, over 200 county residents, PGCLMP volunteers, political leaders, and others gathered at Harmony Hall Regional Center to tell the truth of this historic tragedy, memorialize Mr. Juricks and give him the home-going he has always deserved, and dream together of how we can advance toward a future where the lingering affects of racial terror lynchings give way to true progress and equality for all.
Please enjoy this video compilation of some images from this meaningful event, created by PGCLMP member and co-secretary Katie Pugliese.
Thank you to everyone who made our Soil Collection a huge success.
We are still celebrating the packed house (200 seats); the talented chorus, soloist, dancer, and poet from local high schools; evocative adult poet and soloist; our moving speakers; the support of the staffs of Prince George’s County Parks’ Black History Program and Harmony Hall; and the reverent participation by so many in the soil collection ceremony to honor Mr. Juricks, led by Chapel Hill residents and students who built the Memorial Carts and dug up the soil in nearby Chapel Hill. Mr. Thomas Juricks will never again be forgotten!
We wanted to share with everyone links to the digital version of the beautiful and history-packed Printed Program for the event and to our media coverage:
Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 7pm
Link to register: 
