United Nations Slavery Memorial: Difference between revisions

{{Merge to|The Ark of Return|date=August 2023}}

'''United Nations Slavery Memorial''', officially known as '''The Permanent Memorial at the United Nations in Honour of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade''', is an [[Installation art|installation]] at the [[Headquarters of the United Nations]] in [[New York City]] intended as a permanent reminder of the long-lasting effects of [[slavery]] and the [[slave trade]].<ref name="unslaverymemorial">{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/memorial.shtml|title = Permanent Memorial &#124; International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, 25 March}}</ref>

The Slavery Memorial concept came from various resolutions adopted by the [[UN General Assembly]] including A/RES/62/122,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/slavery/pdf/RES62_122.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-06-29 |archive-date=2009-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530042057/http://www.un.org/en/slavery/pdf/RES62_122.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> A/RES/63/5,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.undemocracy.com/A-RES-63-5.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-11-10 |archive-date=2012-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020082439/http://www.undemocracy.com/A-RES-63-5.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[Durban Declaration]].<ref>https://www.un.org/WCAR/durban.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

The memorial was designed by Haitian-American architect [[Rodney Leon]], and unveiled on March 25, 2015. It includes three main elements: a large triangular sculpture with a map depicting the [[Triangular trade|triangular slave trade]]; a prone human figure depicting those who were transported overseas enslaved; and a reflecting pool mean to honour the memory of those who died in slavery.<ref name="unslaverymemorial"/> The project was supported by the Permanent Memorial Trust Fund; the estimated cost of the project prior to its construction was 4.5 million dollars.<ref>{{cite web|title=UN Launches Trust Fund for Slavery Memorial |url=https://sflcn.com/un-launches-trust-fund-for-slavery-memorial/|website=South Florida Caribbean News|access-date=5 March 2019|date=2 June 2009}}</ref>

[[File:United Nations slavery memorial.png|thumb|''The Ark of Return'' at the visitor's plaza of the [[United Nations]]]]

'''''The Ark of Return''''' is a [[memorial]] in [[New York City]] dedicated to the victims of the [[Atlantic slave trade|Transatlantic slave trade]]. It was designed by [[Rodney Leon]], a [[Haitian Americans|Haitian-American]] architect, and installed in 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-03-25 |title=FEATURE: Architect of UN slavery memorial explains ‘The Ark of Return’ |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/03/494402-feature-architect-un-slavery-memorial-explains-ark-return |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=UN News |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830142042/https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/03/494402-feature-architect-un-slavery-memorial-explains-ark-return |url-status=live }}</ref> It is located at the Visitors' Plaza of the [[Headquarters of the United Nations]].

== Description ==

The memorial's name is drawn from the castle on the island of [[Gorée]], [[Senegal]], where enslaved people were held before being shipped across the ocean. One of the exits of the castle is known as "the door of no return".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=André |first=Vania |date=2015-04-06 |title=Haitian American Architect Rodney Leon Slavery Memorial Unveiled at United Nations |url=https://haitiantimes.com/2015/04/06/haitian-american-architect-rodney-leon-slavery-memorial-unveiled-at-united-nations/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=The Haitian Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830142048/https://haitiantimes.com/2015/04/06/haitian-american-architect-rodney-leon-slavery-memorial-unveiled-at-united-nations/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The memorial is meant to serve as "a spiritual place of return".<ref name=":0" />

The structure, which is meant to evoke the shape of a [[slave ship]], is 30 feet tall and made of triangular white [[marble]] panels supported by a steel frame, which represent the triangular shipping routes of the slave trade.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wills |first=Cheryl |date=2016-02-25 |title=Transatlantic Slave Trade Memorial in Manhattan Stands Taller During Black History Month |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/Black-History-Month/2016/02/25/transatlantic-slave-trade-memorial-in-manhattan-stands-taller-during-black-history-month |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830142051/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/Black-History-Month/2016/02/25/transatlantic-slave-trade-memorial-in-manhattan-stands-taller-during-black-history-month |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Omala-Gauvin |first=Mirriam |date=2018-11-28 |title=Permanent Memorial for slavery: The Ark of Return |url=https://www.africanunion-un.org/post/permanent-memorial-for-slavery-the-ark-of-return |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=africanunion-un |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830142148/https://www.africanunion-un.org/post/permanent-memorial-for-slavery-the-ark-of-return |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Becker |first=Peter |date=14 June 2016 |title=A ship made of marble prisms commemorating slave trade across the Atlantic |url=https://www.stone-ideas.com/50264/a-ship-made-of-marble-prisms-commemorating-slave-trade-across-the-atlantic/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Stone-ideas.com |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830142101/https://www.stone-ideas.com/50264/a-ship-made-of-marble-prisms-commemorating-slave-trade-across-the-atlantic/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A map showing these routes have been etched into one of the interior panels.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Visitors are able to walk through the structure, representing the journeys of enslaved people.<ref name=":2" />

Also inside the structure is a horizontal statue of an androgynous figure carved from black [[Zimbabwe]] [[granite]],<ref name=":1" /> meant to represent the "human spirit" and the deaths of all those who died due to the slave trade.<ref name=":0" /> Above the statue is an etched depiction of a crowded slave ship.<ref name=":1" /> Tears run down the figure's face into a triangular reflecting pool.<ref name=":1" />

== History ==

Rodney Leon was chosen to design the memorial in 2013, his design having won out of a total 310 entries from 83 countries.<ref name=":0" /> Nicolas Grun and Pierre Laurent were named as second place winners for their design, ''Mémorial d’Ebène'', and two designs were named as third place winners: Sofia Castelo's ''Middle Passage'', and ''The Wounded Earth'', designed by Carlo Gondolfi, Paola Passeri, Alessandra Ripa, and Monica Sacchetti.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2013-09-23 |title=Winning design “The Ark of Return” for the Permanent Memorial in Honour of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade unveiled by UN Secretary-General |url=https://en.unesco.org/news/winning-design-%E2%80%9C-ark-return%E2%80%9D-permanent-memorial-honour-victims-slavery-and-transatlantic-slave |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=UNESCO |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531021333/https://en.unesco.org/news/winning-design-%E2%80%9C-ark-return%E2%80%9D-permanent-memorial-honour-victims-slavery-and-transatlantic-slave |url-status=live }}</ref>

The funding for the project primarily came from India, which contributed US$250,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minsky |first=Tequila |date=2015-04-01 |title=Honoring slavery’s victims with The Ark of Return |url=https://www.caribbeanlife.com/honoring-slaverys-victims-with-the-ark-of-return/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Caribbean Life |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-26 |title=The Ark of Return: UN unveils memorial for slave trade victims, India main donor to monument-World News |url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/ark-return-un-unveils-memorial-slave-trade-victims-india-main-donor-monument-2174269.html |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Firstpost |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830142707/https://www.firstpost.com/world/ark-return-un-unveils-memorial-slave-trade-victims-india-main-donor-monument-2174269.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The white marble needed for the project was sourced from [[Vermont]].<ref name=":3" />

Initially the memorial was scheduled to be unveiled in 2014, in time for the [[Sixty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly|69th session of the general assembly]]. This was pushed back to 2015, both due to funding shortfalls and so its installation would coincide with the [[International Decade for People of African Descent]], which started in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Harold |date=2014-10-07 |title=Shortfall in funds to erect slavery memorial |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/shortfall-in-funds-to-erect-slavery-memorial/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Jamaica Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830142621/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/shortfall-in-funds-to-erect-slavery-memorial/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Kimone |date=2014-08-04 |title=Monument to slavery now set for 2015 unveiling at UN |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/monument-to-slavery-now-set-for-2015-unveiling-at-un-2/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Jamaica Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531021337/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/monument-to-slavery-now-set-for-2015-unveiling-at-un-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The memorial was officially unveiled on March 25, 2015, the [[International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade]].<ref name=":2" /> The design won one of the Pinnacle Awards of the Marble Institute of America later that year.<ref name=":3" />

==See also==

== References ==

<references />

== External links ==

*[https://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/pdf/ENGLISH%20Printable_Ark%20of%20Return%20Brochure.pdf Ark of Return Brochure ]

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==See also==

* [[United Nations Art Collection]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* {{Official website|http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/memorial.shtml}}

[[Category:Slavery in art]]