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Letter to the Editor: Removing Historical Marker Was A Cowardly Act

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On Aug. 24, I attended the Georgetown Prospect AME Church fundraiser where Mr. Bryan Stevenson, a former member of the church, was the keynote speaker. In June, a well-attended George White historical dedication and marker was unveiled in New Castle. Mr. Stevenson and I spoke about the marker’s recent disappearance. The 10 feet high historical marker offered a detailed description of the lynching of George White. The marker was stolen within months of its erection. Person(s) came as a thief or thieves in the night to remove the marker, along with its cement base. Given the size and weight of the marker and base, the equipment necessary would be substantial and noisy. At this time, a $2,000 reward remains unclaimed, as no information has been received regarding the marker’s whereabouts.
 

Ironically, the theft only highlights George White’s lynching and supports the theory that there are efforts to suppress Black history, not only in this country but Delaware, a former slave state.

You will not find George White’s story in a typical American history book, even in Delaware, but you can still find it on the internet.

Whatever happened to the first marker, the fact remains that George White was brutally lynched in this state and was denied due process. Bryan Stevenson often speaks to establishing a new narrative that reveals America’s actual history, not the one-sided version that ignores the evil of Jim Crow, Black Codes and the contributions of Black people in building this nation.

The removal of the statue is a cowardly attempt to silence a historical truth and to stop the conversation of America’s racial history relative to the ideas for which it was established. The George Whites of this country will always be remembered in The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. It is rumored that the state of Delaware will replace the marker in a more secure manner and, I hope this rumor is true.

Alicia Jones

Lewes

The Opinions page features letters to the editor. To submit a letter, email newsroom@newszap.com. Letters are not the views of the Delaware State News or Independent Newsmedia Inc USA.

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