Historic Preservation Helps Build A More Equitable Future For Athens, Georgia

Disagreements about the removal of a confederate monument created conversations within the historic preservation community. Now, new ideas surface to create a more representative scene for Athens.

“Hi Sir can I ask you a quick question real quick?” I asked.

“Sure,” the Bystander said.

“Ok, so do you remember the monument that stood right there?”

“Mhm,” he replied.

“What do you think about that being taken down?”

“I think it’s bullshit,” he boldly said and walked away.

Slavery. The Confederacy. Segregation. Eras of Southern history most people believe should be honored, but monuments sprinkled across the American South, like those in Athens, Georgia, tell a different story. Some people want those reminders to disappear. Others hope they’ll remain where they are. And social movements sparked during police brutality protests in the summer of 2020 are forcing a reckoning about which parts of history we should glorify.

“This is certainly a discussion that lots of communities are having in terms of the preservation of Civil War monuments, things that were put up on the daughters of the Confederacy,” said Jennifer Lewis. “They glorify a period of our nation’s past that is also history and it’s important, but maybe doesn’t deserve the tall pedestal that we sit it on.”

Jennifer Lewis is the director of the Center for Community Design and Preservation for the University of Georgia. She says we are moving from glorifying these monuments to acknowledging and learning.

“How do you recognize that that celebration of that rosy picture was also a point in our history that we, you know, needed to move past and needed to learn from and not sweeping it under the rug, but not putting it on the most prominent spot in town. I think it’s the balance that a lot of communities are trying to find, partially I think what helps shift that balance is that if we’re telling,” Lewis continued.

Equity is the value being brought to the table of historic preservation. Athens’ Historic Preservationists are focusing on elevating stories not told. Places that hold strong history for Black Athenians are becoming a bigger focus for the first time.

“I think one area that we still have to improve is applying that preservation practice equitably to bipoc places,” Tommy Valentine said. “And so, and I think that tide has been turning for some time.”

Tommy Valentine is the head of Historic Athens, a non-profit organization. They have turned focus to help preserve sites that hold a strong history for black people in Athens.

“We prioritize the preservation of African American heritage as our top priority as an organization. And you know that the same conversations that are taking place nationwide in the Black Lives Matter movement,” Valentine continues. “Those same conversations are taking place in the world of historic preservation nationally, and we’re seeing that effect here in Athens as well you know discussions of, you know what places should have been preserved that weren’t what places, still be preserved.”

Change is coming to Athens soon, and some of what Valentine’s vision can already be seen. The Athens Confederate Monument moved from its pedestal in the middle of downtown Athens to another location. Valentine’s organization is making the Brooklyn Cemetery a priority. The African American cemetery, important to local Black history, has been overlooked in the past. Slowly but surely, historic preservation in Athens is becoming equitable.

“I think it feels challenged and inspired and motivated and encouraged by this moment, and organizations like historic preservation and our supporters including you know the progressively minded, members of our main commission and I really should just say, the historic preservation supporters on American mission regardless of their politics,” Tommy proclaims. “ I think you’ve really stepped into this moment, and acted with urgency and we’re very optimistic that urgency will continue.”