Urbani izziv Volume 24, No. 1, June 2013
: 144-159
(Articles)
UDK: 719:711.4(76=013)
doi: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2013-24-01-004
Author
Marco GilIBERTI
Auburn University, College of Architecture, Design and Construction, Landscape Architecture Program, Auburn, Alabama, USA
mzg0014@auburn.edu
Title
Rethinking the memorial in a Black Belt landscape: Planning, memory and identity of African Americans in Alabama
Abstract
Although many old sites are well preserved, many sites of historical and cultural value in the United States are disappearing due to their abandonment. In some cases, the condition of these sites makes restorers’ work very difficult. In other cases, in order to recover blighted local economies, administrations and cultural institutions are adopting strategic spatial plans to attract tourists or accommodate historical theme parks. However, recent scholarly interest in the interaction of history and collective memory has highlighted these sites. Even if the memory of some historical sites is fading quickly, this memory is receiving greater attention than in the past in order to enhance local identity and strengthen the sense of community. This article examines a number of plans and strategies adopted to give shape to the memorial landscape in Alabama, thereby documenting and exploring some key relations between city planning and the commemoration of African-American history.
Key Words
Alabama, African-Americans, memorial, American landscape, Black Belt