No Monuments to Traitors
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, we’ve witnessed a growing push across the United States to move monuments dedicated to Confederate generals, leaders, and soldiers from their places of prominence. These monuments are everywhere, from public squares to university campuses, and moving them is no small task. In Sylva, as in so many other cities and towns in the US, our Confederate monument is in front of the town’s historic courthouse.
Often dubbed “Sylva Sam,” similar to UNC’s “Silent Sam,” this monument stands on top of a large marble base overlooking downtown Sylva. Clearly visible on the base are the dates “1861-1865,” the years of the Confederacy, along with the Confederate flag and the dedication, “Our Heroes of the Confederacy.” Even without the base, however, the solider himself displays evidence of which war and which side of the war he represents.
The statue was erected in 1915, 50 years after the end of the Civil War, the same year that the film Birth of a Nation premiered and the Klu Klux Klan began its twentieth century revival. Those who planned the dedication ceremony sought out and booked the same speaker for UNC’s monument dedication ceremony: Julian Carr, a known white supremacist and advocate for the continuation of slavery. There is no separating this monument from its context: the rise of white supremacy in the post-Reconstruction South.
Knowing what we know, there should be no question that this statue has no business remaining in a place of prominence in our downtown.
Building on the awareness and knowledge generated by previous work to remove the statue, Reconcile Sylva formed during the George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020, seeking to join the ever-growing chorus of voices calling for the removal of Confederate monuments. While changes have been made, the statue remains in place, meaning that our work to remove it continues.
Add your voice.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to begin speaking out about racial justice, the moment is now. We have the chance to reconcile ourselves with the painful parts of our history while creating a downtown space that is welcoming for all. Jump in and join us.
Educate yourself.
What’s the history of Confederate monuments? Why do we use words like “racist” and “traitor”? How is moving a statue standing up for racial justice? There’s no shame in asking questions or not knowing, but, as the great Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, do better.”
Get involved.
Are you a Sylva local with some time to donate to racial justice work in our community? We’d love have your help! Are you connected to another statue removal project? We’d love to learn and collaborate. Are you trying to figure out how you can support our work? We’d love to hear from you.