ROB CORCORAN

FORMER NATIONAL DIRECTOR, INITIATIVES OF CHANGE USA

“The news of the city council’s unanimous support is a tribute to persistent work of many individuals since 1993 when Hope in the Cities led the first walk to acknowledge Richmond’s racial history. As well as launching an honest and inclusive public conversation, Hope in the Cities was integral to the creation of the Slave Trail Commission and the marking of historical sites such as Lumpkin’s Slave Jail.

People from many other cities and from conflict areas around the world such as Northern Ireland and the Middle East have walked the trail and found inspiration for their own contexts. Rev. Ben Campbell, founder of Richmond Hill, Delegate Delores McQuinn, and my longtime colleague Rev. Tee Turner have continued to hold up an inspiring vision for a national museum.

It’s also encouraging that this work of recognition and healing of racial history bridges political lines at the state as well as local level. In 2007, led by Governor Kaine, Virginia became the first state to formally apologize for its support of slavery, and his successor, Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, pledged state funds for the development of the museum.”