Over the past several years, many governmental entities have removed some of the numerous memorials that were erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to honor Confederate war dead and the cause for which they fought. The removals were in reaction to individuals who think that the monuments glorify an ignominious time in American history, prior to the adoption of the 13th Amendment in 1865 and the 14th Amendment in 1868, when laws protected, and sometimes even glorified, slavery.
Removing the monuments has, however, often provoked controversies, like that in Charlottesville, Virginia, not only by those who think such actions dishonor Confederate ancestors but also by Neo-Nazis and other racist groups.
'In appreciation of our faithful slaves'
In 2024, the residents of Columbia, North Carolina, in Tyrrell County brought a suit, which has not yet been resolved. It seeks to either remove or cover up the inscription on a Confederate monument that say “IN APPRECIATION OF OUR FAITHFUL SLAVES.” The monument, which was dedicated in 1902, is next to the county courthouse and depicts Confederate General James Johnston Pettigrew. It also has a smaller bust of General Robert E. Lee.
Critics, who believe that the words incorporated slave stereotypes, note that slaves could be severely punished for being perceived as unfaithful by going against their owners’ wishes. They find the words particularly offensive given their proximity to a place where justice is supposed to be administered without regard to race.
In response to requests to remove or obscure the inscription, the county government notes that in 2015, the state adopted a monument protection law that effectively ties its hands.
Government Speech Doctrine
Although the First and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution guarantee broad rights of freedom of speech (including symbolic speech) to private individuals, governments have the right to control speech issued in their names under the government speech doctrine. In this case, those who want to remove or obscure the inscription argue that the message violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which applies specifically to states and their subdivisions.
Ian Mance, a lawyer for Emancipate NC, which is challenging the Tyrrell County statue, explains that “Our contention is that equal protection does not allow the government itself to actually make racially discriminatory statements. By the statue being on government property, it represents government speech” (Burch 2025).
Other recent memorials to slaves
As of 2017, there were at least three other monuments dedicated to slaves. They were in the Confederate Park in Fort Mill, South Carolina, in Arlington National Cemetery, and in West Virginia (Dys 2017).
The one in Fort Mill, which was erected in 1896, is inscribed with the words:
Dedicated to the faithful slaves who, loyal to a sacred trust, toiled for support of the army. With matchless devotion, and with sterling fidelity guarded our defenseless homes, women, and children during the struggle for the principles of our Confederate States of America.
It appears to have some support among the local black population (Dys 2017).
Recent attempts to honor slave contributions
In recent years, a number of colleges and universities, including the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia, have erected memorials recognizing the work that slaves contributed to the building of the institutions.
Historians note that slave labor was used in the construction of the White House and the U.S. Capitol Building in the district of Columbia.
Elsewhere other memorials have been erected to honor leading abolitionists or, as in the case of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, to memorialize Black victims of lynching and other atrocities.
John R. Vile is a political science professor and dean of the Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University.