Monuments and memorials convey powerful visual messages and symbols. Decoding the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers & Sailors in the context of race and social justice, serves as a public platform for dialogue. Monuments can celebrate, memorialize, and challenge negative stereotypes; but they also can serve to reinforce prevailing social norms and colonial attitudes of domination. This monument challenged attitudes in early 20th century Philadelphia, and looking at it through a contemporary lens reflects the imperative for diversity of voices to be seen and heard in public spaces.

Presented by Naomi Nelson, art historian and educator of African American art