More than 4,000 black Americans were lynched in the United States between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War II.  These were often public spectacles, sadistic and grotesque displays meant to intimidate blacks and flaunt white superiority.  They were acts of domestic terrorism. At least 40 racial terror lynchings occurred in Maryland

Despite the progress of the civil rights era, it’s clear that the legacy of racism endures in our country.  We believe the injuries it still inflicts can't be healed until it is confronted. There must be truth before there can be reconciliation.

The Maryland Lynching Memorial Project was created to advance the cause of reconciliation in our state by:

·  documenting terror lynchings that took place in Maryland

·  encouraging public discourse about this history and its continuing influence 

·  advocating for public recognition of these crimes 

We believe these efforts will foster greater empathy and help us find a path to reconciliation.