A University’s Betrayal of Historical Truth (Dec. 9, 2019)
“A great public university should stand for the pursuit of truth, not the promotion of historical distortions and falsehoods. In seeking an expedient solution, the university system has succeeded only in aggravating the problems that the removal of the statue was supposed to address.”
By W. Fitzhugh Brundage, William B. Umstead Distinguished Professor of History at UNC-Chapel Hill, with David Blight and Kevin Levin.
Why Did UNC Give Millions to a Neo-Confederate Group? (Dec. 3, 2019)
“As people who have actually been forgotten by history lie entombed and unrecognized on our campus, it is nothing short of revolting to learn of an institution of higher learning donating $2.5 million to those who would rebuild the Confederacy.”
By William Sturkey, Assistant Professor of History at UNC-Chapel Hill
Silent Sam Was a Symbol of Mob Violence Itself (Aug. 24, 2018)
“For more than a century, Silent Sam stood as a sentinel of white supremacy that lent dignity and respectability to systematic mob violence. This is the larger issue of law and order that is at stake in recent events. It has haunted our state and nation for generations, and as yet it remains unresolved.”
By James Leloudis, Professor of History at UNC Chapel Hill
Silent Sam and other Civil War Monuments Rose on Race (Nov. 23, 2017)
Ph.D. Candidate Brian Fennessy discusses dedication speeches that were given at Confederate soldier monuments across North Carolina with The News & Observer.
Race and Cultural Landscapes: A Conversation with W. Fitzhugh Brundage (Nov. 22, 2017)
Dr. W. Fitzhugh Brundage discusses Confederate Monuments with TCLF, advocating to either put them in proper context or remove them.
Carr Was Indeed Much More Than Silent Sam (Oct. 31, 2017)
“Julian Carr was not merely ‘a man of his times,’ but rather an architect of his times. He was an enemy of enlightenment and democracy whose rhetoric and actions, both then and now, cast dark shadows over the civil and political life of the state and retard our ability to move forward from the legacies of slavery and Jim Crow.”
By William Sturkey, Assistant Professor of History at UNC Chapel Hill
The Future of Silent Sam (Oct. 2, 2017)
Former UNC Chancellor James Moeser, and department members William Sturkey and Fitz Brundage discuss the history and future of “Silent Sam” on WCHL.
Julian Carr Did Wrong, but also a Good Deal Right (Sept. 26, 2017)
“It would behoove participants in the public debate over the Silent Sam statue to take a closer look at a historical personage who has become central therein: Julian S. Carr.”
By Peter Coclanis, Albert R. Newsome Distinguished Professor of History at UNC Chapel Hill
Beyond the Headlines: Confederate Monuments, Historical Memory, & Free Speech (Sept. 1, 2017)
A paneled discussion with Carolina Public Humanities featuring Dr. William Sturkey, Dr. Harry Watson, and moderated by Dr. Lloyd Kramer.
Why America Is Wrestling with Confederate Monuments (Aug. 25, 2017)
PBS Newshour’s William Brangham talks to Peniel Joseph of the University of Texas, W. Fitzhugh Brundage of the University of North Carolina, Pierre McGraw of the Monumental Task Committee.
History Speaks on Intentions Behind Confederate Statues (Aug. 23, 2017)
“The civic leaders who financed and built those monuments made their intentions clear: they sought to normalize white supremacy and give legitimacy to the Jim Crow regime that they began to build in the early 20th century.”
By James Leloudis, Professor of History at UNC Chapel Hill
I’ve Studied the History of Confederate Memorials. Here’s What to Do about Them (Aug. 18, 2017)
“Confederate monuments that have aesthetic significance can and should be preserved in museums where they can be properly interpreted by curators and docents. In such settings, they will serve as historical artifacts rather than civic monuments.”
By W. Fitzhugh Brundage, William B Umstead Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A presentation on the history of Silent Sam:
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Important facts about the Silent Sam statue.
By Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina Project Team and Advisory Board
A Guide to Researching Campus Monuments and Buildings: “Silent Sam” Confederate Monument
A list of books, articles, and similar resources detailing the history and present controversy surrounding the “Silent Sam” Confederate memorial on the UNC campus.
A Guide to Resources about UNC’s Confederate Monuments
A guide to primary sources held in the University Archives and other Wilson Library collections about the planning and dedication of Silent Sam and the discussion surrounding the monument in the years since.