Philadelphia Exhibit on Slavery Removed

In January, the federal government tore down a memorial to people enslaved by George Washington at his Philadelphia residence, in the shadow of Independence Hall.

Exhibit panels removed from the President’s House Site told the stories of Austin, Christopher Sheels, Giles, Hercules, Joe Richardson, Moll, Oney Judge, Paris, and Richmond — all held in bondage years after the Founders claimed for themselves the “unalienable rights” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Following public outcry and a federal court order, the National Park Service later restored the exhibit panels. However, the attempt to remove them underscored the ongoing efforts to sanitize the history of slavery in the founding era.

Exhibits are being removed at National Park Service sites around the country and the threat to the President’s House site continues. Learn more from the Resistance Rangers.

This whitewashing, on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, is part of a centuries-old fight over whose stories get preserved or erased. Educators are central to this struggle. Here are recommended actions:

(1) Join our campaign to teach truth about the American Revolution. We offer considerations for framing the American Revolution, followed by resources for teaching outside the textbook.

(2) Teach the stories that were removed from the exhibit in Philadelphia. Classroom friendly zines were created to preserve the history at the President’s House Site, including Read Censored History, Thwart Fascists by Amanda Wyatt Visconti and Ona Judge: Washington’s Fugitive Slave by Maddie Luebbert.

(3) Display the removed images in schools and communities everywhere. Find many of the images in a collection by Stan Horwitz. Send photos of where you post them to [email protected].

(4) Follow local organizers and actions at the Philadelphia’s President’s House/Slavery Memorial Alliance via Facebook.