April 12th 2024.
Recently, a group of civil rights advocates gathered to discuss a pressing issue facing their community in Maryland. The topic at hand was the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a prominent structure that has stood since 1977, overlooking the Patapsco River. While the bridge may have been a symbol of pride for the state, it has now become a source of controversy due to its namesake's troubling past as a slave owner.
The group, known as the Caucus of African American Leaders, is made up of influential members from organizations such as the NAACP and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. They unanimously voted to recommend to Democratic Gov. Wes Moore and the General Assembly that the bridge be renamed. The bridge was destroyed in late March 2024, after a cargo containment ship crashed into it, sparking conversations about plans to rebuild.
The group's proposal was to rename the bridge after Rep. Parren J. Mitchell, the first Black Marylander to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970. Mitchell, who passed away in 2007, was known for his tireless efforts to bridge the gap between the African American community and society as a whole. Caucus convener Carl O. Snowden stated that Mitchell had dedicated his entire life to this cause, making him a fitting choice for the bridge's new name.
During the meeting, the group shed light on Key's controversial beliefs and actions, noting that he profited from slavery and held deeply racist views. They also suggested that the Sen. Frederick Malkus Memorial Bridge be renamed after Gloria Richardson, the first woman to lead a grassroots civil rights organization outside of the South in the U.S.
The Caucus plans to discuss their proposal further during their quarterly meeting with Gov. Moore. However, Moore has stated that his current focus is on recovering the bodies of the bridge workers and rebuilding the structure, and that the issue of renaming the bridge is not a priority at the moment.
Despite some conservative voices hoping for a name change following the bridge's collapse, the Caucus remains optimistic about their proposal. Maryland has a history of listening to its Black residents and taking steps to rectify tainted histories, giving the group hope that their recommendations will be seriously considered. As Snowden put it, the new name should be someone that all taxpayers can respect, as public structures built to honor someone are done using all taxpayers' money.
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