The History and Genealogy Committee invites you to Part III of their webinar series. This session is on Thursday, May 12, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. and features a full panel of guest speakers.
“Where Do We Go From Here?” will address issues that intersect: communities of color, immigration, housing, voting, poverty, reparations, and more, with a focus on how to build coalitions to do this work.
Register for free at https://bit.ly/PGCLMP_May2022
The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project has revised its mission statement to honor and show respect for the Africans who were enslaved in America and reflect accuracy in current historical terminology. The specific changes made were: first, to explicitly state our concern with the fates of the Africans who were enslaved and their descendants and to honor their full humanity by not implicitly suggesting they were only “slaves”; and, second, to use the now preferred term of the “institution of slavery” versus “slavery” since the institution or system of slavery and other systemic oppressions are the major causes of current day racial injustices and are a major focus of our work. Selected sources supporting the reasons for this change include the following:
New Mission Statement
The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project educates the public about the truths of our nation’s continuing legacy of the institution of slavery and its impact on enslaved persons and their descendants, memorializes victims of racial terror lynchings in our county, and advances the cause of racial justice and reconciliation through mutual support and collaboration.
Our Racial Justice Essay Contest, in collaboration with Equal Justice Initiative, is extended to April 15, 2022. Please help share the news and use the link to find out more information about how to submit your entry.
Consider attending this free event with author Charles L. Chavis Jr about lynching. Details are at vabook.org
The Equal Justice Initiative in partnership with the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project is pleased to announce an upcoming scholarship contest open to 9th – 12th grade students attending public high school in Prince George’s County, where prizes totaling at least $5,000 will be awarded to winning participants.
Students are asked to examine the history of a topic of racial injustice and to discuss its legacy today. Essays should explain the chosen topic using a specific historical event(s), explore how the injustice persists, and imagine solutions for a future free from racial injustice. Students are encouraged to reflect on how the topic impacts their own lives and communities.
Read more about the contest and how to submit an entry.
Across Maryland, neighbors and stakeholders are stepping forward to honor the memories of victims of racial terror lynching in our communities. Montgomery County recently held a procession and soil collection ceremony which gives us ideas for our direction as our work continues. Please watch.
You are invited to participate in the important work in our county of naming truth and moving forward to memorialize victims of racial terror. Email princegeorgescolmp@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link for our meeting this Saturday, 2 – 4 PM.
Our next monthly meeting is Saturday at 2 PM EST on Zoom.
In honor of Juneteenth, the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project will NOT be meeting this month. Look for our next meeting in July.
To encourage all to take advantage of Juneteenth events, please see the options below.
In person: City of Greenbelt activities Friday night June 18th and Saturday 19th (see flyer), co-sponsored by Greenbelt Black History and Culture Committee (co-chaired by PGC LMP members Dr. Lois Rosado and Leeann Irwin).
On-Line: Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society-Prince George’s County, Maryland Chapter (AAHGS-PGCM) Juneteenth | AAHGS | PG County
Also:
Parks and Planning may do a virtual Juneteenth event (Check site for details: http://www.pgparks.com/780/Juneteenth)
PG County Library offers several events this month (Check site for details: https://www.pgcmls.info/juneteenth )
Please see the following statement on Racial Injustice & Social Equity from our partners at Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
A major lesson from history is that those who do not learn from the past are destined to repeat it. Financial and political power built upon systems driven by racial oppression does not make a sound foundation on which to forge and advance a humane, sustainable future for the United States, and the majority of people in this country are voicing that statement. Maryland, like the United States, has a profound and tortured relationship with systemic racism, and as a result, this state has been an epicenter for protests and calls for Black liberation: from the abolitionist movement to innovations in the arts, education, and civil rights legislation. The legacy continued in 1969 with the MCAAHC, and in 2019 with the MLTRC.
You can download the full statement here: