VOICES: WHAT WAS THAT STATUE? BY PRABIR MEHTA

I remember my first time seeing the Lee monument. I was 9 years old and still fresh to the USA. The family drove down Monument Avenue to get on Franklin to visit a family friend. We drove past the (Lee) monument, and I asked my parents what that statue was. They said something to the effect of “he must be someone who founded the city or something?” A little later we walked around and saw the statue up close. One of the inscriptions mentioned something about him being a general (or something) but there was no info anywhere ya know? No context, (lol)…literally. Nothing. Just “LEE” that’s it.

We went about our way and moved on.

I can’t remember when I actually learned who Robert E. Lee was, but spoiler alert – y’all – he didn’t found the city. Being an immigrant and totally new to this land I did not see it as a sign of hate or as a hero, just assumed it was some important Richmonder. My point is that there was no context, no information. That was in 1989. There’s been so much time since then to give it context (or something)…even after many conversations in recent years, we still have nada. Now, it’s been announced that the Lee monument will be removed.

I guess the confederate statue supporters didn’t want to add context, the whole story wasn’t worth telling, apparently. So, others have decided…hey look, if you’re not going to tell the whole story about something in public, then is your half-told story really worth keeping around? Looks like the answer is “no”, and I’m totally cool with it. And yes, I’ve learned all about him (Lee) since then, just wanted to share a little personal memory that jumped to the front of my mind.

Let’s put some bad-ass public art up there. Maybe, after causing much division in our community, maybe, make it a park for people to come together, 6-feet apart for the time being, but closer in the future.

Richmond, where so much history has been made, continues to make history. Much more work needs to be done, but every journey starts with the first step, let’s keep walking. Better yet, let’s keep marching for what’s right.