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The Tree That Remembered Slavery
Description
At Historic Smithfield, a powerful Juneteenth ceremony honored over 200 formerly enslaved individuals, with attendees reading their names aloud—a moving tribute to a silenced past. Centered around the legendary Merry Oak, a tree that stood for 350 years before falling in 2020, the event celebrated its role as a sacred gathering place for the enslaved community. Descendant and author Kerri Moseley-Hobbs revealed how the tree symbolized resilience and connection, echoing modern communal spaces. She stressed the urgent need to center the agency and stories of the enslaved, not just their enslavers, to correct history’s narrative. As preservation efforts unfold and Juneteenth traditions continue, the goal remains clear: to honor, remember, and integrate this vital history into Smithfield’s legacy, building a more truthful and reconciled future.
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