“We believe there is something better waiting for us in America. We think there is something that feels more like freedom, more like equality, more like justice-but to get there, we can’t ignore the past. We have to confront our history, find our truth, and lift up justice.”
Bryan Stevenson, EJI
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) was founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson. The organization provides legal representation for people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused while incarcerated. EJI is additionally committed to changing the racial narrative in America through its Legacy Sites located in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, resides on the site of a former cotton warehouse. It explores the comprehensive history of enslavement through interactive and educational exhibits, first person narratives, and art.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is a space to reflect and confront racial terrorism. Over 4.400 people killed in racial terror lynchings are remembered at this site through its main structure composed of steel monuments engraved with their names and location.
The newest addition to the Legacy Sites is The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. This site looks over the Alabama River, a waterway where enslaved people were trafficked. The site will be interactive with artifacts, stories, and immersive experiences. We look forward to visiting this powerful space once it opens in 2024.
Sankofa Impact prioritizes visiting the Legacy Sites while on our Pilgrimage to the South. These sites offer critical space during our journey to confront the legacy of enslavement in the U.S, its connections to mass incarceration, and the influence it has carried through to the present day. EJI continues to be a guiding light for our organization and our work for collective liberation.
