Monumental Decisions

For decades, when Pastor Hewitt Sawyers drove past the Confederate monument in his city, he felt the weight of slavery’s long shadow.

Sawyers, 73, attended a segregated school in Franklin, Tennessee. He read from books passed down from the White school. The courthouse had a “colored” water fountain, and the movie theater didn’t welcome him on the lower floor.

Then Confederate monuments began to come down around the country following the killing of a peaceful protester during a 2017 White nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Sawyers thought the 37-foot-tall statue of a Confederate soldier—known as “Chip”—in Franklin’s public square should go too.

“Every time I went around that square, [Chip] was a reminder of what had gone on,” he says.

For decades, Pastor Hewitt Sawyers drove past the Confederate monument in his city. Every time he did, he felt the weight of slavery’s long shadow.

Sawyers, 73, attended a segregated school in Franklin, Tennessee. He read from books passed down from the White school. The courthouse had a “colored” water fountain, and the movie theater didn’t welcome him on the lower floor.

Then Confederate monuments began to come down around the country. The mass removal followed the killing of a peaceful protester during a 2017 White nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Sawyers thought the 37-foot-tall statue of a Confederate soldier—known as “Chip”—in Franklin’s public square should go too.

“Every time I went around that square, [Chip] was a reminder of what had gone on,” he says.

But Sawyers and like-minded residents—including Black and White people in Franklin—couldn’t get the statue removed. So they found a way to focus on Black history: a new statue in the same square depicting a soldier from the U.S. Colored Troops, largely Black regiments recruited for the U.S. Army during the Civil War (1861-65).*

As places across the U.S. grapple with how to memorialize history, statues like this are still rare. But there are other monuments to Black Civil War soldiers in places such as Vicksburg, Mississippi; Boston; and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Franklin’s new statue—which was unveiled in October—and five recently added markers tell the story of the market house where enslaved people were auctioned. They also reveal the role that local Black men played in fighting for their freedom. Dubbed “the Fuller Story,” the project expands the narrative of why and how the war was fought.

“Here is a Black man who was enslaved, who gave his life to go out to help free other people,” Sawyers says. “To be standing here, now, in the face of a statue that represents enslaving those people and to know that, because he was willing to do that, we won—what a powerful message.”

But Sawyers and other like-minded Black and White residents couldn’t get the statue removed. So they found a way to focus on Black history in the public square. They put up a new statue of a soldier from the U.S. Colored Troops. These largely Black regiments fought for the U.S. Army during the Civil War (1861-65).

As places across the U.S. grapple with how to honor history, statues like this are still rare. But there are other monuments to Black Civil War soldiers in places such as Vicksburg, Mississippi; Boston; and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Franklin’s new statue was unveiled in October. It and five recently added markers tell the story of the market house where enslaved people were auctioned. They also reveal the role that local Black men played in fighting for their freedom. Dubbed “the Fuller Story,” the project expands the story of why and how the war was fought.

“Here is a Black man who was enslaved, who gave his life to go out to help free other people,” Sawyers says. “To be standing here, now, in the face of a statue that represents enslaving those people and to know that, because he was willing to do that, we won—what a powerful message.”

Much of Franklin’s identity centers on Civil War landmarks, so the Fuller Story project gaining unanimous approval from officials marks a significant evolution.

“It was long overdue to tell people not just the U.S. Colored Troops story but this very impactful story of the Black experience during the war,” says Eric Jacobson, a historian on the project. “A lot of people just didn’t know about it.”

The effort began in 2017, when, in response to the violence in Charlottesville, a White pastor in Franklin called for Chip to come down. His proposal was met with threats and anger.

Supporters soon became aware of the legal hurdles. The United Daughters of the Confederacy, which installed the monument in 1899, claimed ownership of the land. Plus, state law imposed restrictions on removing memorials.

Jacobson had an alternate idea: Rather than removing the Confederate statue, Franklin could share stories of local African Americans relevant to the Civil War. Supporters raised $150,000 to make it happen.

Much of Franklin’s identity centers on Civil War landmarks. That’s why the Fuller Story project gaining approval from all of Franklin’s officials marks a major evolution.

“It was long overdue to tell people not just the U.S. Colored Troops story but this very impactful story of the Black experience during the war,” says Eric Jacobson, a historian on the project. “A lot of people just didn’t know about it.”

The effort began in 2017 after the protest in Charlottesville. In response to the violence, a White pastor in Franklin called for Chip to come down. His proposal was met with threats and anger.

Supporters soon became aware of the legal hurdles. The United Daughters of the Confederacy installed the monument in 1899, and the group claimed ownership of the land. Plus, state law put limits on removing memorials.

Jacobson had another idea that wouldn’t require removing the Confederate statue. Instead, Franklin could share stories of local African Americans relevant to the Civil War. Supporters raised $150,000 to make it happen.

The five markers, which were erected in 2019, describe the experiences of Black people before, during, and after the war and include photographs and illustrations. And the statue, named “March to Freedom,” depicts a Black soldier with his foot on a tree stump and a rifle across his knee. Broken shackles lie under him. The title refers to the marching of the soldiers before battle but also encompasses the marches that took place throughout
the fight for civil rights.

The five markers were put in place in 2019. They describe the experiences of Black people before, during, and after the war. They also feature photographs and illustrations. And the statue, named “March to Freedom,” depicts a Black soldier with his foot on a tree stump and a rifle across his knee. Broken shackles lie under him. The title refers to the marching of the soldiers before battle. It also signifies the marches that took place throughout the fight for civil rights.

About 180,000 Black soldiers fought during the Civil War. Still segregated from White troops, they often faced brutal consequences if they were captured.

“I’ve seen a whole lot of Confederate statues in my day,” says Chris Williamson, a Franklin pastor. “But I have never seen a statue of a United States Colored Troops soldier in person. Image matters. Representation matters.”

Lecia Brooks, chief of staff for the Southern Poverty Law Center, commends the Fuller Story but says the two statues shouldn’t be conflated as offering a balanced view of the war, given the Confederacy’s aim to prolong slavery.

“They are not the same,” she says.

Franklin’s elected leaders, united on the Fuller Story, remain divided on whether Chip should be removed.

“Part of what makes Franklin Franklin is our history,” says former Alderman Margaret Martin. “He was right where he needed to be.”

About 180,000 Black soldiers fought during the Civil War. But they were segregated from White troops. And Black soldiers often faced brutal consequences if they were captured.

“I’ve seen a whole lot of Confederate statues in my day,” says Chris Williamson, a Franklin pastor. “But I have never seen a statue of a United States Colored Troops soldier in person. Image matters. Representation matters.”

Lecia Brooks, chief of staff for the Southern Poverty Law Center, commends the Fuller Story. But the two statues shouldn’t be seen as offering a balanced view of the war, she says, given the Confederacy’s aim to prolong slavery.

“They are not the same,” she says.

Franklin’s elected leaders have united over the Fuller Story. But they remain divided on whether Chip should be removed.

“Part of what makes Franklin Franklin is our history,” says former Alderman Margaret Martin. “He was right where he needed to be.”

Others would like to see it moved to a nearby cemetery. But the United Daughters of the Confederacy has sworn to fight any relocation efforts.

Williamson says he received criticism from Black residents disappointed that the Fuller Story didn’t go far enough. If others want to push for the Confederate statue’s removal, that’s their prerogative, he says, but he has moved on.

“I’m excited about the stories we are telling that haven’t been told,” he says. “I ain’t got time for Chip.”

Others would like to see it moved to a nearby cemetery. But the United Daughters of the Confederacy has sworn to fight any relocation efforts.

Williamson says he received criticism from Black residents. Many of them felt that the Fuller Story didn’t go far enough. If others want to push for the Confederate statue’s removal, they have the right to do so, he says, but he has moved on.

“I’m excited about the stories we are telling that haven’t been told,” he says.
“I ain’t got time for Chip.”

^{*Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders also served in the units.}

^{*Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders also served in the units.}

Kirk Johnson covers national issues for The New York Times.

Kirk Johnson covers national issues for The New York Times.