The DC Preservation League (DCPL) is committed to the struggle for racial justice. We believe that historic preservation must be a prominent voice in celebrating the contributions and achievements of African Americans and play a vital role in achieving reconciliation through an honest and unsparing reckoning with the past.
We also believe that a full, frank, open, and inclusive conversation about our city’s monuments is necessary to such a reckoning.
This re-evaluation must recognize that while some monuments are longstanding elements of historic landscapes or exemplify the work of master artists and craft persons, they may reinforce past values and ideologies which are repugnant today, and their continuing display in public spaces may be unacceptable.
In connection with our support for racial justice, DCPL strongly advocates for the preservation of local sites with special significance to African American history. These initiatives, often undertaken in partnership with community organizations and the DC Historic Preservation Office, are described in detail on our website.
