Is the design appropriate for the African Burial Ground?
Why or why not?
 
What elements would you keep or change?

 
Public comments were submitted by people responding to exhibitions of the five final designs conducted by The National Park Service and the General Services Administration and also through the African Burial Ground web site. The comments were were gathered from September 7 through October 8, 2004.

You may jump to a specific set of responses by selecting from the list below:

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Federal Building, 290 Broadway
Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center, Staten Island
Brooklyn Historical Society
Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center, Queens
Electronic Responses

 
Responses submitted at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture:
 
• No. Too simple and bleak.

• Yes.
• Keep the wall of faces.

• I will keep.

• Interesting but reminds me of Vietnam wall in Washington, not unique enough.
• Change a lot.

• No. The walkway takes away from the Burial Ground.

• Yes. Sail evokes middle passage.
• Keep curve walk, boulder from Africa, and wall of fences.

• No. Not as imaginative overall.

• Yes. I like that it is featuring water. I think the faces in relief wall would be very moving and effective in person.
• Keep all.

• OK
• Keep the welcoming entrance.

• Good

• No.

• Yes. I like the idea.
• I would also include slow narrative in the design.

• A beautiful concept with the faces on the wall. I like the pool idea also.

• No.

• Not enough history.
• Add more elements of explanation.

• It’s ok but I prefer DePace.

• This is my second choice because it has a quiet dignity and the symbolism of what the place represents is not lost.
• Change nothing.

• Interesting – like the idea of Benin Heads, but all look alike.
• Would like to see more diversity in Benin-type material heads. Not sure how I feel about the symbol of ship. Not as deep or spiritual, must go further with concept.

• It’s too open “vulnerable.” The spirit of the ancestors need to be “held.”
• Put the trees inside, encircle the circumference with stations and a dome.

• Material could be available (similar to poster near entrance) containing information about the African Burial Ground.

• Love the fences!
• Need more places to sit, more trees.

• No, don’t like.

• No. A) Design too stark. B) Water will freeze in cold weather & need constant cleaning. C) I like trees on the outside of grounds.
• Clear glass wall enclosing most of the site

• [keep] the soil as a symbol of the diaspora and of the coming and going of souls and spirits. [change] all the grass into water

• I would keep the faces and the back area that is sacred

• Quite plain and sparse
• Start over

• Yes. Some interaction with this space is allowed by this design—but not enough. One is allowed to react to a wall instead of the interred ancestors
• Provide a strong and permanent monument at the circle. The dhow sail is not appropriate.

• [keep] I would keep the Sankofa and faces

• Yes. Why is the poem backwards from the outside when security may prevent entry in the Federal Building. Has strong reference to Africa
• Keep faces, polished metal symbols in pool. Change benches to shape of African stools or add symbols to their bases.

• No. It’s a beautiful open place, you feel free, like on a boat but it needs more than the faces to remind us of slavery
• Some more ground design could be added.

• Yes. It seems to bring a place of peace and for one to meditate
• I would change the grass for cobble stones.

• 2nd choice
• I like the simplicity of the design and the fact that elements of nature are kept

• What do the African symbols mean? Also, what countries in Africa do these people represent?
• Add more history—from what tribes/countries in Africa are represented of the 20 thousand? The history is too vague.

• No

• No

• Very Nice

• The best, beautiful flow. Correct symbols.

• All are nice.

• Yes Yes Yes. This is my choice – the design is simple yet elegant.
• Would keep all except that there could by more varieties in the planting for the sacred ground.

• Yes

• No, too manicured, not enough color doesn’t allow for a true memorial.

• I like it, but I have to think and correlate too much to get it and thus the average man will just go sit there and have lunch if cannot be bothered to think.

• Yes, simple, dignified, accessible
• [changes] none

• No. Too complex.

• No.

• No. These designs are done to appease the tourists and the terrorists of the United States and the world.
• [change] All!!! Check out the Holocaust Museums in Europe, lower Manhattan, and elsewhere.

• No. It’s just a little lane with faces and a sail with water. Seems boring.
• I would make a statue

• No.

• No!! covers over some of the graves. Looks like a boat pond.
• Glass wall!! Get real!

• No. It doesn’t speak to me.

• Too simplistic. A good concept, but left me wanting more.

• No trees or rocks.

• Cold nothing special, meaningless, distant. Could be just any memorial.

• Yes. Because of the faces engraved, preserving the history and identity of the slaves. It keeps the memory alive.
• I would keep all elements, especially the boat sail and the engraved faces.

• No. This design is too open to the street.

• I like this design but more space needs to be available for the respect of the burial ground.
• The pool takes up too much space. The pool could be small. I like the faces of our black ancestors.

• I like this proposal the best because the features (faces and sail) seem to leave the greatest impression. As symbols these speak intuitively to the audience/visitors, which I find to be a great asset.

• No.

• Yes. I like the names of the interred being visible as with any federal monument.

• No.

• add more description to site.

• No. To modern in design.
• The only one to provide appropriate seating.

• Yes. Water, ship-like shape and faces of enslaved people
• More trees

• I am in favor of this one lightened up the names. Nothing to be on the Holy Ground. Looks nice

• No—however it is a beautiful piece of work. This design reduces the “sacred ground” to a minimal amount of space.

• Not enough sacred ground
• Like the wall of faces, boulder and dhow sail

• 3rd choice


Responses submitted at the Federal Building, 290 Broadway
 
• Yes.

• The use of the masks increases those feelings one experiences. It enhances the level of the unknown while reminding one of the horrors these beautiful people endured that no one will ever know about at an individual level. Yes, my favorite.

• Needs more detail/expansion.

• Liked the design initially, but after looking at it for a while realized there was too much plain concrete.

• Not enough character of the ancestral spirit. Too bland, not enough substance. Look like monuments that have already been done.

• Yes, the wall is simple and commands reflection and respect. A very simple, elegant tribute for simple, elegant people. The impression of quiet regalness and respect—accessibility by the public, not too much changing of the landscape.

• During the first public exhibition my choice was Eustace Pilgrim & Christopher Davis because it showed so much vision which reflects Black Americans in the light of our struggle. However, after looking at the final modal, the design looks plain with not much vision

• No. This is the model with no name or other identifying info. Too boring , and the Benin-Nigeria masks motif ignores where the other enslaved African’s came from.
• I like the water.

• No.

• No.

• (?) Looks too much like other memorials I have seen – not enough imagination.

• Don’t like.

• No. No “monuments” included. No explanation of significance of Burial Ground. Did they really just put grass over the crypts?
• Only thing good is open space for gatherings on either side of path.

• Maybe. But some of those faces look alike. Shouldn’t the faces be different?
• Change nothing.

• Good, but are we walking over remains?
• More trees.

• Must have water.

• Looks too distant.

• Maybe.
• The water aspect I would keep.

• I like the use of the elements and that it’s not as “busy” as the other designs. The boat is a nice idea but what does it have to do with the 20K ancestors?
• Omit the “Benin” faces and choose faces that represent a wider cultural cross-section of the 419/20,000 ancestors. These masks suggest that they all came from one culture. Add a fountain so the water is free-moving and flowing – not a stagnant pool.

• What are the stones on the wall? What’s the meaning of the split boulder and flag?
• Keep water and two benches.

• Okay (#4)

• Yes. It transports up towards the future in a very special way.

• No. Not enough trees, too barren, but I like the sea thing.

• No. Too busy.
• No seating. Would be great in another space.

• Yes.
• [keep] The water is a nice touch.

• Too stark. Not representative of much.

• No. Too plain no real sense of the purpose.

• Don’t like it – seems under designed.

• No. Too much like the Vietnam Memorial in DC. Too plain.
• [keep] None

• No. Reminds me of Vietnam memorial. Not enough spirituality. Could be a site representing anything. Not representative of an African Burial Ground with ancestor’s remains.
• Like the water. Not enough seating area for meditation and contemplation.

• Too European looking for me other than the faces (looks like Battery entry, no harm meant). Too cut and dry.

• No. Africans never lived like this.
• [keep] None

• No. Representation of history is too vague.
• [keep] None

• No. No details, no vision. What is this model made for? Not appealing. Undesirable.
• No comment.

• Too open. This will encourage loitering.

• Yes. Simplicity with bold, symbolic shapes, water, plants, trees, (“space” to reflect inside oneself)
• Little more gradation in the earth/land.

• No. Looks like a typical memorial. Nothing special. Too many themes – conflicting message.
• Keep faces on the wall. Lose the flag – what does it symbolize? They should put their name on the design so we know who built the model.

• No. It reminds me of a baseball field and has no spiritual value.
• I would keep the wall of human faces.

• If this is the one with the sail, I would like it. Nice and open, contemplative. However, it could use some color. Think of who is being memorialized, people.

• Yes. The faces give meaning in association w. contemplation.

• No. Don’t use this. No connection with African culture. This design looks insulting and silly.

• No. Way too simplistic. Fails to make a statement.

• Too limited, too lacking.
• Needs more of everything. See Groundworks.

• No too plain and does [not?] say much.
• NO. NO. NO.

• No. This gives the illusion of morbidity with no uplifting. It symbolizes only despair.

• Yes. I like this one best – it represents journey and nature.
• The benches should be minimalist natural stone forms that look like they’ve sprung up or eroded down. Coming out of the wall or on the hill above it should be a small rusty iron element evoking mystery, work, servitude, arising from below and the passage of time. As it is, the wall décor seems too uniform in material.

• Doesn’t do anything. Not feeling it.

• No.

• No. Looks too plain and unattached to the ancestral element.
• Keep the pool and add more of the African element.

• No. Too simplistic.
• Would keep water and add more benches or places to sit. Don’t like design overall.

• Awful.

• Not peaceful enough.

• No. Has appearance of [a] golf course.

• Need a garden to meditate

• The design was not shown

• Not—Life lost, too open, exposed

• I did not like this exhibit because it was not a good representation of the African Culture
• The design is too basic and does not show any cultural aspect of African history

• Seems unfinished, reminds me of Vietnam Memorial by Maya Lin (Been there/done that)
I like movement toward ancestral interment site and simplicity and water. Are shrubs planted on our ancestors or are we barricaded away from them? Are the ‘dots’ going to be masks?

• No, it’s too simple

• Needs more. The ‘wall’ is good but what else is there? The water is saying enough. Not sure what the sculpture is saying.
• I’d keep the wall. Add seating. Place wall along back wall of the yard.

• No.
• It doesn’t feel spiritual of sacred to me. It reminds me of a gold course of park for kids to go skateboarding. Hated the sail mass, who wants to be reminded of the abuse on slave ships.

• Yes. No reservation. The Benin faces are a good idea, but there is no attempt to recognize the places of reinterment.
• I would like to see more varied sculptural elements imbedded in the walls. Africans were stolen from many places in West and Central Africa. Those traditions (Art and artifacts) need to be respected.

• Could not figure out.

• No, the design does not adequately represent the site’s purpose. Its design is plain.
• The elements I would change are the sail and along with the sculptures add other details of African, and African-American History such as a timeline. Or descriptions about the background of where slaves were from originally.

• No. Actually this design is worse than the previous rendering the water which was symbolically inappropriate earlier has been curtailed but the result is a more barren site intersected by the pathway road. They have cut up the burial ground symbolically and in actuality. One would not know that this whole site is a cemetery.
• The sail which was elegantly depicted in preliminary design, now is most unimpressive and most ramshackle. The bottom line however is that it disrespects the actual history here and those interred.

• Okay, but not great.
• No comment

• Yes, wonderful and simplistic, visually great
• The wall with the faces I like very much

• Yes, good use of green space—interesting dhao reference
• Needs signage—otherwise would be better ranked

• Yes, Its respectful of our ancestors but not too morbid
• Change or include more people of color walking through

• Yes, I like the use of the corral suggested but I think its oversimplified to the point of being simple park space

• Yes, a symbol of African Heritage

• No name on the exhibit!

• Yes, inclusive of all relevant elements.
• Keep it all. I hope this design is chosen.

• Yes! Makes best use of the size and shape of the burial site. Only design that actually conveys the feeling and “flavor” of Africa. Has the most people-friendly walkway/access path. Most unique and original design concept of all the finalists. Best balance between solemn, respectful feeling and contemporary presentation of the site.

• No. Although the inner wall is good in that it reminds me of the Vietnam Memorial, I don’t like it.
• I do not like the ship mast. I think we should celebrate the fact that these Africans were free, more so than how they came here, for this particular memorial.

• It’s appropriate as it has the elements of the journey to the new world. I’d like it a little greener with plants
• Think twice about the water. Unless you are committed to keeping it clean, it will look terrible & be dirty most of the time.

• No. Vietnam Vet Memorial copy

• No—It doesn’t say much

• Not good
• [keep] None

• Yes. However, better exploration of concept needed.

• Bisects a cemetery
• Green grass OK, sail is flimsy, why here?

• Simple, easily maintained
• Benin masks?—visages of multitude buried/commemorated here?! Not enough here to allude to commemoration. The curved wall element is beautiful! Why the sail?

• This one. Most elegant…best evocation of the sea and ship(s) carrying Africans here. The cutaway seems to suggest a fish (life), keyhole or question mark.

• Scale does not seem right. ‘Sail’ structure is too close to 290 Broadway.


Responses submitted at Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center, Staten Island:

• No informational value for future generations

• Not enough information [4th place]

• Design is not appropriate
• [keep] none

• No, very limited visiting space
• Wall of Remembrance great place for graffiti

• Good


Responses submitted at Brooklyn Historical Society:

• No. this plan does not give a “feel” of an African space or that people of Africa descent are buried there.

• No
• No

• Yes. It also shows the relationship of Africa and America

• No.

• Best. Simple, elegant.

• Somehow it looks overdone

• No

• No. Not enough information in the design. Are the circular items on the wall words or faces?
• Keep the water. Change everything else.


Responses submitted at Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center, Queens:
 
• Nice and simple in design. The reflection pool is a wonderful idea.
• Simple is nice but maybe a little too simple.

• Incomplete presentation. Lacks explanation for public acceptance

• 2nd choice
• Sacred ground—but non contemplative. It is a different site than XXXX.

• Incomplete presentation
• I couldn’t get a concept on the design because there was no narrative or explanation of idea

• No. It does not have enough info
• I would keep the lake and the little shi9p sail. On the wall I would like it to be the brown faces.

• Yes. It shows the ship the slaves were on.
• The wall [note: respondent does not specify keep or change]

• It has too many limitations where as people should be able to reflect on their past and show respect by feeling of connection.
• I would keep the intensive tree planting


Electronic Responses:
 
• Yes. Maybe. This would be my second pick, but a distant second.
• If chosen – keep all.

• Yes. I like the water element, with the ship’s sail, it chronicles the slave’s enforced journey, it all seems very approachable, with plenty of information and I like the wall that has the shapes of bodies and gives the dead an actual presence in the memorial that is supposed to be for them, I like the clear wall that protects but doesn’t interrupt.

• No. I did not like the design. It was flat.
• I would not suggest keeping any aspect of the design.