Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1184234
1 0 4 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E . C O M A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 of our nation's history. Along the wall are markers with additional historical context: For "annoying a white woman." For "helping to organize local sharecroppers." For voting. e green space around the memorial includes, organized by state and county, a field of markers identical to those hanging inside the monument. Bibb County has a marker. It has six names on it of lives stolen with impunity: Tames Moore (8/12/1886), Willie Singleton (10/17/1890), Charles Gibson (9/12/1897), Charles Powell (2/04/1912), Paul Jones (11/03/1919) and John Glover (8/01/1922). Another is simply listed, along with a date of death, as "unknown." e markers are intended to be moved to and installed in the counties they represent, and in Macon much of this information is not new. Middle Georgia State University history professor Andrew Manis described much of it in his book, "Macon Black and White, an Unutterable Separation in the American Century." Community members, led in large part by Dr. Catherine Meeks, oversaw the installation of a marker in honor of John Glover, killed by a mob in 1922, placed in front of the Douglass eatre several years ago. Building on the work that already has been done to learn and share local history, a number of community members are ready to take on the work of engagement to see the Bibb County marker installed locally. Amber Jones, a recent graduate of Mercer University Law School who grew up in Macon, visited the EJI Memorial this past spring and returned with a commitment. "Macon has a rich and powerful history," Jones said. "I believe that we should embrace all our history. ... How can we ignite progress without acknowledging our downfalls?" Like so many others who have left the memorial feeling challenged, Jones added, "I am more aware now than I have ever been of the influence that our country's history in lynching has on the current criminal justice system. I am excited to take an active part in bringing a piece of that memorial here to commemorate and honor those lost to lynching in Bibb County and to further educate our residents." ere's a process required here, and the logistics include engaging with the community to locate a site, secure funding and