Mississippi African American Memorial

The Mississippi African American Memorial commemorates African American's legacy at Vicksburg.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Vicksburg National Military Park

Significance:

African American Monumentation

The Mississippi African American monument is a 9-foot tall, 3,000-pound bronze sculpture standing on a pedestal of black African granite. The monument honors the 1st and 3rd Mississippi Infantry Regiments, African Descent, and all Mississippians of African descent who participated in the Vicksburg Campaign. These United States Colored Troops played a key role in the Union victory at Milliken’s Bend on June 7, 1863.

The monument features three men: centrally, a wounded black soldier who is being aided by a black soldier in uniform and a civilian laborer in farm attire. The civilian laborer looks back symbolically at the life of enslavement they are leaving behind, the wounded soldier’s face depicts the pain and sacrifices of the present war, while the uniformed soldier looks forward into a hopeful future.

While the American Renaissance movement of art that influenced many of the monuments in the park ended in 1917, the sculptor of this monument-- Dr. J. Kim Sessums, a Mississippi native -- still utilized some of the key features of the movement, like his focus on anatomical proportions. The three male figures of the sculpture maintain anatomical, proportional, and historical accuracy.

This monument was dedicated on February 14, 2004 and stands as one of the largest tributes to African American soldiers on any Civil War battlefield within the National Park Service.

• Mississippi African American Memorial

  
  

  A 1-minute and 39-second audio track describing the Mississippi African American Memorial in Vicksburg National Military Park.

  Date created:

  12/20/2022

  Audio Transcript

  The Mississippi African American monument is a 9-foot tall, 3,000-pound bronze sculpture standing on a pedestal of black African granite. The monument honors the 1st and 3rd Mississippi Infantry Regiments, African Descent, and all Mississippians of African descent who participated in the Vicksburg Campaign. These United States Colored Troops played a key role in the Union victory at Milliken’s Bend on June 7, 1863.

  The monument features three men: centrally, a wounded black soldier who is being aided by a black soldier in uniform and a civilian laborer in farm attire. The civilian laborer looks back symbolically at the life of enslavement they are leaving behind, the wounded soldier’s face depicts the pain and sacrifices of the present war, while the uniformed soldier looks forward into a hopeful future.

  While the American Renaissance movement of art that influenced many of the monuments in the park ended in 1917, the sculptor of this monument-- Dr. J. Kim Sessums, a Mississippi native -- still utilized some of the key features of the movement, like his focus on anatomical proportions. The three male figures of the sculpture maintain anatomical, proportional, and historical accuracy.

  This monument was dedicated on February 14, 2004 and stands as one of the largest tributes to African American soldiers on any Civil War battlefield within the National Park Service.