A Bench by the Road - Hattiesburg
There is no place you or I can go, to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of, or recollect the absences of slaves; nothing that reminds us of the ones who made the journey and of those who did not make it. There is no suitable memorial or plaque or wreath or wall or park or skyscraper lobby. There's no 300-foot tower There's no small bench by the road.
The Bench by the Road Project was launched by the Toni Morrison Society in honor of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison. This bench is placed in memory of the descendants of slaves who placed Hattiesburg at the forefront of the battle for freedom. During the "Freedom Summer” of 1964, these 20th Century warriors made their headquarters in the homes and offices of Mobile Street and, from there, literally changed the world. They insisted on justice, equality, and enfranchisement for African Americans. They would not be denied and, ultimately, they prevailed. The honor and dignity of all Americans is their legacy.