What is Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington?

Jessica Kaplan

March 6, 2025

What is Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington (MEA)?

Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington (MEA), a project sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, is uncovering the history of Arlington County’s enslaved population and honoring their contributions. It places memorial plaques throughout the county at sites of past enslavement. 

Through research into local records the project reveals the brutal truth of local enslavement, the human cost for all involved and the fortitude and resilience of Arlington’s enslaved community.

Where did the idea for MEA come from?

This project is inspired by the  Stolpersteine  project that began in Germany to honor Holocaust victims. Artist Gunter Demnig created brass plaques or ‘Stumbling Stones’ that are placed in the sidewalk before homes and apartments of those murdered in the Holocaust.

In June 2021, reporter Michele L. Norris wrote an opinion essay in The Washington Post called “ Germany Faced Its Horrible Past. Can We Do the Same?” , in which she documents the many ways that Germany has reckoned with its Holocaust past and reflects that the United States has never had a similar reckoning about slavery.

What will stumbling stones tell us about the enslaved persons?

The names of enslaved people were often left out of historical records including census, tax, and property records.  When possible, we will provide a first name and surname on stones. If unavailable, we will state that the name is unknown. Birth and death information will be included when known and a line stating that the recognized person was “once enslaved here.”

We hope viewers of the stones will be inspired to learn more about enslavement in Arlington and their neighborhood and the individuals being honored. They can do so by accessing our website EnslavedArl.org where there is a database of the enslaved people, stories, historical timeline, maps, and much more.

Won’t people step on stumbling stones and possibly deface them? How can that be a fitting memorial?

Stones are meant to be “stumbled” upon during everyday life. “You won’t fall,” Demnig once said. “But if you stumble and look, you must bow down with your head and your heart.”[1] This can be very powerful.

We already have Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and Black History Month. Why do we need another event or activity about African Americans?

Arlington has not done the best job remembering its history. Important buildings and sites have often been plowed under to make way for new development.  Those that remain do not sufficiently tell the story of its African American inhabitants. For instance, Arlington House, an Arlington landmark, where over 200 enslaved people lived and worked, has only recently begun to share its long history of enslavement. 

The history of European settlers has been consistently explored in Arlington by the Arlington Historical Society and the Center for Local History. The same cannot be said for other ethnic groups including Africans, African Americans, Latinos, Vietnamese and more. We don’t want to diminish the story of white settlement, simply provide the full history of the county.

Who will maintain the stumbling stones over time? 

AHS will oversee the care and maintenance of the stones. This includes cleaning when necessary and their replacement if sidewalks are damaged. We are searching for volunteers interested in coordinating the cleaning of stones by church and scout groups and possibly civic associations. 

How can I help support MEA?

Please send us an email through the contact section stating how you would like to support our project.

Please consider sponsoring a stumbling stone in your neighborhood or providing a donation to the project. Charitable contributions of all sizes are impactful and demonstrate the vital importance of this work. 

Thank you.