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This linked excerpt raises an interesting question. “Why don’t we commemorate Reconstruction?” During this period, traditionally designated as the years between 1865 and 1877, millions of African Americans enjoyed unprecedented levels of freedom. In the political arena in particular, as you will learn in Unit 3, nearly 2,000 African Americans held positions in local, state, and federal governments. After reading the excerpt, write down, discuss, or simply think about answers to the following questions:

• If you were on a committee charged with establishing a Reconstruction monument in your local community, what would you recommend in terms of subject, form, material, placement, etc.?
• How would you make the case for the various elements of your recommendation(s)?
• If you were on a committee charged with establishing a national Reconstruction monument, what would you recommend in terms of subject, form, material, placement, etc.?
• How would you make the case for the various elements of your recommendation(s)?
• In both cases, what kind of objections do you think you might encounter?