Day 16: Fourth of July
Today is for community, celebration, friends, and family!
We have crossed the Bridge of Lament! Enjoy this day with friends and family. I hope you can laugh. I hope you can cry if you want to. Spend time with loved ones and appreciate the freedom of the country you live in.
There are several people that we want to thank who have supported this journey:
Phyllistine Mosley, Chair of the Lynchburg Juneteenth Coalition, who gave us the history of Juneteenth in Lynchburg
Beatrice Hunter, purveyor of local Black culture and history on It Takes a Village, who shared insight on people in Lynchburg and reviewed Day 13: What’s in a Neighborhood?
Anabelle Tweedy, trustee at Jackson Street United Methodist Church, who reviewed and advised on Day 10: Tending Life in Death
The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College for providing the image of Purvis Young’s Carryin’ a Figure in Day 6: The Birth of America’s Adam
Dr John Abell, Randolph College Department of Economics, who shared his publication at the Virginia Journal of Economics for Day 13: What’s in a Neighborhood?
The Lynchburg Museum, which provides the community with a collection of historic photographs at lynchburgphotos.org
Bridge of Lament contributor and editor, Jeremiah Forshey
Bridge of Lament contributor and editor, Rebecca Martin
Bridge of Lament anonymous contributor and friend from Bedford County
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson, who inspired this project in her book Journey of Freedom
Author and pastor Duke Kwon, who offered the original idea of an “annual 16-day season of national remembrance, lament, and renewal” between June 19th and July 4th.
The Center for Formation, Justice and Peace, which has led book studies with Greg Thompson on several books, including the Bridge of Lament recommended reading, Voices of Lament by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
We enabled comments on this post if you want to say anything. Press the green “Leave a comment” button at the bottom. We intentionally left this off the previous 15 days to avoid negative responses that would distract from the work of lament. But today, we invite you to respond as you desire. In the near future we will follow up with a survey asking for more feedback on this experience.
Questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you. Email bridgeoflament@gmail.com.
Thanks for your leadership on this series, Kenton. It's been a joy to be part of.
I learned so much while crossing this Bridge of Lament. It has inspired me to look more closely at the history of my place. Thank you!