By ROSANNA WEAVER
Photo credit: Rosanna Weaver
For years a metal barrier stood in the middle of Windom Road in Brentwood, random and confusing. It was the sort of thing you’d expect to see when a bridge was permanently out or a safety barrier was needed to keep vehicles from going over a cliff. This barrier was not about safety, however, but about something more sinister: It was erected by Brentwood in 1957 to physically reinforce a racial divide.
Now, that metal barrier has been repurposed into a sculpture that was unveiled at a new park on June 29. The piece of metal that once served as a marker of separation is clasped between two hands of the sculpture in a symbol of unity.
Brentwood was, for most of its history, a sundown town — a town where African Americans were allowed to work but not live. North Brentwood was the first incorporated African American town in the county, in 1924. Shortly after Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the City of Brentwood erected the barrier on the borderline and for years resisted North Brentwood’s requests to remove it. But the two towns have worked together in more recent times to discuss how to respond to this tangible evidence of the past and refashion it for the future.
According to a press release, “The Towns’ unique collaboration stands as a testament to the significance of public art and environmental stewardship, uniting to create a space that honors past histories while committing to shared futures.”
“This is the culmination of the deep partnership between the towns and proof of what happens when communities fight racism together,” said Brentwood Mayor Rocio Treminio-Lopez. “As an immigrant who grew up in this community, [I believe that the] unveiling cements a commitment to pave the way for a future of inclusion and rights for anyone who lives here.”
North Brentwood Mayor Petrella Robinson said that the June 29 unveiling of the park offered an opportunity to “reflect on the cause that unites us and also celebrate the community efforts that got us to this solemn and joyful event.”
“We honor the residents who fought against this blatant discrimination, and we pave the path for unity and equity,” she said.
The process was a long one that involved many participants. Through collaborative partnerships with Gateway Community Development Corporation, Neighborhood Design Center, Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, Red Dirt Studio, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, as well as through funding provided by Chesapeake Bay Trust, Maryland Area Heritage Authority – Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, and the Maryland State Arts Council, the two towns established a shared vision to reimagine the look and experience of the barrier at Windom Road.
The towns commissioned the artist team of Nehemiah Dixon III and Wesley Clark — mainsprings of the Gateway Arts District — along with RL Martin and Bob Donahue to reclaim and rebirth a segregation-era barrier between the two towns into a memorial sculpture within a park designed by the Neighborhood Design Center.
The park also includes a nod to sustainability. Ecosite LLC and E&R Services LLC engineered and constructed functional design elements to address the historical issues with flooding and to manage stormwater.
*Note: a prior version of this article said that North Brentwood was the first African American town in the country, and also referenced the new park as a Brentwood park. The park is on Windom Road between 39th St and 39th Pl., an area on the border between North Brentwood and Brentwood according to state maps. North Brentwood was the first African American town in the Prince George’s County, but not the country; African American towns were established earlier elsewhere in Maryland and in other states.
