VOICES: UNDER THE SHADOW OF LOOKING BACK, LET’S RE-IMAGINE MONUMENT AVENUE BY R. ANTHONY HARRIS

Looking at the Lee statue and the Marcus-David Peters Circle — I see a place of discourse.

Greek philosophers, Socrates and Plato, would bring their philosophical theories to an amphitheater and debate them face-to-face. Those debates on our humanity and our role on this planet changed the ancient world. 

Can you envision that in your mind? That is what MDP (Circle) is fighting to be right now. 

One July afternoon, I went by Marcus-David Peters Circle (MDP) and saw 2 groups of bikers separated by the median, but meeting in the middle. Honda riding black men and white men with their Harleys on opposite sides, some openly armed, talking loudly. From across the way, it looked like a potentially dangerous situation, but, as I made my way closer, I heard a heated debate. They were discussing the Bible and what it teaches us about treating others with respect. After a lengthy conversation, the talk turned to the role of government, which led to our current politics, with both groups distrustful of both. These tough-looking men ‘agreed to disagree’ on plenty but there was a universal sense that things in the country are not right. They came down to MDP expecting confrontations and what they got was discussion. I hoped that a few of these men were able to see each other as real people for a moment instead of the stereotypes put on them by the media. Maybe the conversation made a difference.

Looking around, I spotted a group of volunteers giving away free food. I walked over and sat down from a safe distance and just listened. I felt their confusion at the current state of the country and understood their frustration on how to make it better. Who speaks for their concerns? Where are the community leaders? Who should we trust?

After a few hours, I left.

Nothing had been solved but it made me realize that this type of open and honest conversation needs to be encouraged and facilitated by the community. It is important to have face-to-face civil discourse, in a safe place, as an important step towards creating solutions to our countries racial and class issues. Social media strips us of nuance and allows for mischaracterizations. Easy stereotypes are the first step in the dehumanization of peoples. You can easily block what you don’t want to hear. You can dismiss someone with a click of a button. Label them “the enemy” and get lost in your own echo chamber. Instead of being afraid of the difficult conversations — what if we did the opposite and encouraged it? 

We need a place to safely speak and to see each other. That place could be under the shadow of General Robert E. Lee in Marcus David Peters Circle. The old guard of Richmond is sadly suing to keep the statue there for years (tied up in the legal system) — so why not keep it there and change the narrative?

Block off traffic to create an open walkabout from the former Jeb Stuart Statue to the Robert E. Lee Statue similar to the Charlottesville Downtown Mall. 

Create a new statue where the Jeb Stuart statue was — dedicated to the crime of slavery. Commission another artwork from Kehinde Wiley to add to his popular ‘Rumors Of War’ statue outside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. 

Build a ‘wailing wall’ on a paved median from the former Jeb Stuart to the Robert E. Lee statue engraved with the names of former Virginia slaves, like the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. Coming from a military family, I had a deep emotional reaction to seeing all the names of our fallen American soldiers on the Vietnam Memorial. I believe this wall engraved with former slave’s names would resonate and be a proper monument to anyone whose family was connected to slavery, whether as an ancestor of slaves or an ancestor of a slave master. People would be able to see the human cost of this terrible institution, and, maybe, have a chance to heal in some way.

Surround a portion of MDP Circle with a small amphitheater that can be used as a place for public discourse every day, all day. It would be a public park and be set up for small performances from the theater, speakers from the community, or live shows from local musicians.

Let our politicians meet directly with their constituents there. Let our activists schedule times to talk with the media about their concerns there. Let concerned citizens have a platform to talk with their neighbors there. 

Under the shadow of looking back, let’s re-imagine Monument Avenue and start rebuilding Richmond as a place centered on positive ideas, contextualized art, and open debate. 

R. Anthony Harris is the creator and creative director of RVA Magazine and Major Major Agency.  He is looking forward to seeing a better Richmond, VA — one that includes everyone in its success.