Introduction: A Monuments Rise and Fall
In 1905, a bronze statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest was revealed in Memphis, Tennessee, in the middle of the Jim Crow South. This monument depicts Forrest on a horse in honor of his legacy. However, this legacy is tainted as he is known to be one of the most controversial generals. He was praised for his skills on the battlefield and criticized for his affiliation with racial violence , for instance, his role as first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. The statue’s presence sparked conversation about justice in history more than a century later, which eventually led to its removal in 2017. In this case study we will analyze how the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue offers a perspective on how monuments play a role for social principles and collective memory while being historical symbols.
Who Was Nathan Bedford Forrest ?
Nathan Bedford Forrest was born on July 13th, 1821, in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Being born into a poor family and dealing with hardships at an early age made him step up as the provider of his family. Forrest’s success sky rocketed and became wealthy through the slave trade, plantation ownerships and real estate. He joined the Confederate army in 1861 as a private and advanced in rankings quickly because of his innovative strategies and strong leadership skills when the Civil War began. He was then promoted to lieutenant general and was considered to be the Confederacy’s most elite horseback leader.
During his time in the military, his reputation was overshadowed because of a major controversy. Forrest’s is connected to the Fort Pillow Massacre of 1864. Where troops in his command murdered hundreds of African American Union soldiers were forfeiting. Northern witnesses and historians collectively characterized the attack as a racially motivated offense, in comparison to the Confederate voices at that given time, which were justifying the act.
After the Civil War , Forrest became the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan , a white supremacist terrorist group created by previous Confederate soldiers. His active participation in this organization solidified his own image as being ignorant and prejudiced during the Reconstruction Era, although he claimed that he left the KKK when it was too brutal. In his final days in 1877, he was still in Memphis. To this day , Bedford Forrest is known to be a symbol of hatred and racism because of his connection to slavery and the war. He is still regarded as being one of the most polarizing figures in American history.
Who built the Monument and Why?
The Nathan Bedford Forrest Statue was revealed to the public on November 11th, 1905, in the public park that was previously named Forrest Park in Memphis, Tennessee. The statue was made possible by the sons of the Confederate veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). Charles Henry Niehaus created this statue , which evoked bravery and military heroism by showing Forrest riding a horse in full Confederate attire.
It was no coincidence that the statue was built at this very moment. The Jim Crow era enforced racial segregation, which included black Americans’ lack of voting rights and opportunities due white supremacy which peaked in the early 20th century . Multiple confederate monuments were being built throughout the south, which commemorate the past but also to shape present -day perspectives. Those statues were an element of a wider ideological attempt to portray confederate figures ,just like Forrest ,as brave heroes rather than offenders of racial brutality and rewrite the civil war as a courageous fight for states rights rather than an opposition of slavery.
This statue was marked as a place of honor , Forrest’s and his wife Mary Ann Montgomery remains were reburied beneath the monument, which added more depth to what the physical statue is. To preserve Forrest in Memphis reputation to the public , those who backed him buried him at this monument as a way to keep him around.
What Message Did the Monument Send ?
The statue made a strong statement about who should be honored and recognized in society. Forrest is portrayed as displaying strength , authority , dignity when he mounted on a horse and holding his sword. Which i bring up again because if i did not do research on this monument and who Forrest was i would not have known his involvement in the controversies he is in. There is no mention of forrest role in slavery , the fort pillow massacre , and the Ku Klux Klan . Once more , speeches at the dedication his patriotism and military genius were highlighted. It was not a random choice to leave out the problematic parts of Forrest’s story. Rather it is believed that it was an intentional way to humanize him and make him representation of white supremacy and southern glory.
“With his intrepid eyes directed to the land (South) he loved so well, General Nathan Bedford Forrest commands today as he did in the days of struggle and strife, when his words were law and his commands were as binding as bands of steel.”
Additionally, the statue’s size and location gave Forrest an impression of visual immortality. Which is unfortunate because in reality ,this monument is an ongoing reminder of injustice and discrimination for Memphis African Americans, not just a historical monument.
What Did People Think of the Monument When It Was Built ?
It was extremely difficult to find a specific reaction to the monument when it was unveiled because it was so long ago. However, at the time 1905, I assume it was praised by the white Memphis community. Thousands of people attended the dedication event , which contained speeches and songs to honor Forrest’s legacy and the confederacy. Black Memphians were not consulted or represented. This public appreciation of a person who’s success was based on profiting money from slavery and leading a group that terrorized minorities was despicable.
What Do People Think Today ?
The statues reputation underwent a significant change in the 20th century and early 21st centuries. There was concern over the Forrest memorial rose as historical research and civil rights activism strengthened. A recovering nation wide effort to eliminate Confederate symbols was followed by the 2015 Charleston church shooting. Many protesters assembled at Forrest park , which is now known as Health Sciences Park. Many individuals found the statues public display of white supremacy and racial prejudice in a predominately black community distasteful.
“It’s like a burden has been lifted”
– Van D. Turner
The monument was removed in the year 2017 and was taken down by a crane. Interesting enough, Forrest and his wife’s remains were also removed the following year. Many organizations like the sons of Confederate veterans, argue that the removal was unethical and insulting to southern customs. Many people on the other-hand, feel a sense of relief and celebrate that the statues removals is a win for racial equality and the real truth about history. At the end of the day , we must remember we cannot erase what people do to others but we can acknowledge what is right or wrong. We cannot praise someone who only cared about what benefitted him and those in the same social classes.
Concluding Statements
Monuments are never indifferent , The Memphis Nathan Bedford Forrest statue is a clear depiction of this. They do more than just preserve history , it can create a narrative to boost others and suppress the truth about another party. Created in 1905 , the Forrest statue was created to honor a confederate leader but it caused conversations about historical memory , power, and racism. This monument praised white supremacy and tried to justify a point of view that was stemmed from bigotry and prejudice behaviors. Which is incredibly disheartening and dangerous because depending on who relays the message of Forrests story he can be seen as a hero or a villain.
The dismantling of this monument in 2017 was due to confrontation within the community.The Forrest monument has become a topic of discussion about what should be respected in Memphis and other American communities because they had to tolerate with confederate history. While working on this case study it made me wonder the following : “Who has authority to choose which accounts are being told to the public” , And how can the more difficult periods of a countries history be merged with a nations high expectations”.
Controversial monuments are meant to make the public confront uncomfortable truth because in history you can see how the public memory evolves. Overtime, what was once an expression of something to be proud of , people began to become self aware of the exclusion of groups.By acknowledging the actual political and emotional importance of monuments , we can start building ones that actually represent inclusivity and something to remember and never regret.
The portrayal of Nathan Bedford Forrest acts as a lesson to town pondering about what to do with divisive monuments: removing a statue does not mean forgetting the events of the past , instead it can mean involve deciding which aspects of the past are we ready to let go and those we would prefer to promote.
Work Cited
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