How Will They Be Remembered?

robertal1939
12 minutes ago
4 min read

Carved in Stone: George Washington's slave at The President's House site in Philadelphia located and 6th and Market Street.

The nine individuals named on this wall were enslaved by George Washington. Our understanding of them depends on who tells their story. First-time visitors to the Memorial at the President's house might not realize how the narrative has evolved over the past year and a half. Who were Austin, Paris, Hercules, Christer Sheels, Richmond, Giles, Oney/Ona Judge, Moll, and Joe? Before January 2026, visitors would have learned about them through video installations and written panels that:

Austin was a stable hand
Christopher Sheels was Washington's personal Attendant
Giles was a driver and a stable hand
Hercules was the chief cook during Washington's stay in Philadelphia
Joe is mentioned in 1795 records as "Postillion Joe". His time in Philadelphia is uncertain
Moll was a nursemaid to Martha Washington's children and grandchildren
Oney/Ona Judge was a talented seamstress and a personal maid to Martha Washington
Paris was a stable hand
Richmond worked in the kitchen.

For more information about each of them, read President's House Site: Enslaved People in the Washington Household on the National Park Services website.

You can also learn more about Ona Judge at the the African American Museum of Philadelphia. The exhibit "Who is Ona Judge?", curated by the Ona Judge Coalition can be seen until Labor Day.

Have you noticed these footsteps a the site? These footsteps symbolize the escape of Ona Judge from bondage.

The story of the individuals who were enslaved by President Washington was first uncovered when an archelogical dig in 2002 on the site at 6th and Market Street yielded the finding that the site, five feet away from the Liberty Bell Center, was the slave quarters at Washington's House. A powerful grassroots movement developed. African American attorney Michael Coard formed the Avenge the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) to push for a plan to recognize the lives of the enslaved. Through hard work, dedication and collaboration that dream became a reality in 2010. Written interviews with Ona Judge and her descendants exist, while the stories of the other eight individuals remain mysterious and dependent on the storyteller.

December 17, 2020, marked the tenth anniversary of the fruition of the plan to recognize the lives of these nine enslaved individuals. However, on the morning of January 23, 2026, in the early morning hours, the video displays were silenced and the panels telling the stories of the inhabitants of these slave quarters were removed by order of the current administration. The exhibit, eight years in the making was undone. Court Cases were immediately filed and the void left by the vacant walls was filled by volunteers. Organizations, such as, Old City Remembers, enlist volunteers who stand at the site to read the original texts that have been removed.

Though lawsuits and counter law suits, portions of the original panels were temporarily returned and then removed again. Some of the original panels were reportedly damaged or destroyed. Tracking the legal battles won and appealed is challenging. As of July 15th, all original panels are no longer on display and there are no video installations depicting the residents' lives and stories.

Instead, the current administration has replaced them with panels that tell a different story. For example, a panel titled "The Dirty Business of Slavery" has been replaced by one that is titled "Celebrating Independence Throughout the Years." There can be no clearer example of the importance of knowing whose voice we are hearing when we are reading someone else's story. In the morning hours, once the new installation was discovered, a press conference was quickly organized at the site. “To say that we are outraged is an understatement,” civil rights lawyer Michael Coard and founder of ATAC said.

Erasing history is unfortunately, not an uncommon act. These acts can stem from a desire to control the present by manipulating the past, often driven by political motivations, ideological beliefs, or societal pressures. Governments, institutions, and even individuals have engaged in such practices, believing that by rewriting history, they can shape public perception and maintain power.

However, time and again, the truth has been rediscovered. The resilience of historical inquiry and the relentless pursuit of knowledge by scholars, activists, and ordinary citizens play a crucial role in this process. Despite concerted efforts to suppress certain narratives, evidence often emerges from various sources, including documents, artifacts, oral histories, and personal testimonies. These discoveries serve as powerful reminders that the truth has a way of surfacing, often at the most unexpected moments, and challenging the sanitized versions of history that some wish to promote.

Moreover, the process of uncovering the truth can serve as a catalyst for societal change. It challenges the status quo and encourages a critical examination of the narratives that have been accepted as historical fact. In this way, the act of rediscovering history becomes an essential component of social justice, as it highlights the importance of acknowledging past injustices in order to build a more equitable future. By confronting uncomfortable truths, societies can work towards healing and reconciliation, ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. The journey towards understanding America's history is ongoing, and each revelation strengthens the resolve to protect the integrity of our collective memory, ensuring that the lessons of the past and the achievements are not lost to time.

The original information being suppressed here is not lost. It can still be found, and it is worth the search to remind us of the bravery and resilience of African people who were brought to this country against their will. Many of these individuals and their descendants have made meaningful contributions to America. If you would like to view the original panels posted and/or are interested in becoming a volunteer reader at the site, information can be found at "Old City Remembers" .

More Information about the history of Africans and African Americans can also be found at the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and a recent publication, UNTOLD HISTORY: Africans in the American Diaspora, Origins, Past, and Present Contributions, by Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai, Founder & CEO, Coalition4Justice.

Posted by Roberta Brooks

Coalition4Justice