But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Abraham Lincoln
The Gettysburg Address, 1863
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Abraham Lincoln
The Gettysburg Address, 1863
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Abraham Lincoln
The Gettysburg Address, 1863
Conceived in the spirit of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, America’s Hallowed Ground—a project of the Kenan Institute of Ethics at Duke University—seeks to honor sites of past struggles, conflicts, and sacrifices that are significant to the American story, particularly its history of racial inequality. Our work blends historical research with the Arts to amplify and keep alive the stories of these sites—many of which are not widely known.
We are artists, documentarians, designers, anthropologists, historians, and ethicists dedicated to the belief that all are created equal, and to the hope that our nation of pain and promise, may live up to its ideals and experience a new birth of freedom.
Our project strives to listen to and learn from the voices of hallowed grounds calling out for recognition, truth, and reconciliation. We know we cannot hallow ground, as Lincoln said, but we can listen for the voices of those who have. We collaborate with local communities and descendants. Together we seek to elevate the voices of those who have struggled and died on sacred grounds.
America’s Hallowed Ground Sites
Durham, NC
Wilmington, NC
Cherokee, NC
For Teachers
The America’s Hallowed Ground team has developed a range of curricular materials for classrooms in grades 7-12 to support students’ exploration of sacred spaces. The materials will explore the history of hallowed spaces featured on this site, and illustrate how individual artists and whole communities use the arts to commemorate and share the history and significance of a site.
For Teachers
The Team
The project is co-directed by Charlie Thompson, Duke University Professor of the Practice of Cultural Anthropology and Documentary Studies and Kenan Senior Fellow and Mike Wiley, actor and Duke University Stephen and Janet Bear Assistant Research Professor of Arts, Ethics, and Education.
Mike Wiley
Actor / Playwright / Director
Charlie Thompson
Writer / Filmmaker
Participating Artists
Partners
