HOUSTON – A traveling memorial honoring more than 200 Black Americans from Martin Luther King Jr. to George Floyd arrived in Houston on Monday.
Houston rapper, activist and philanthropist Trae The Truth led the effort to bring the “Say Their Names” exhibit to his hometown, which was set up and unveiled Monday evening at Emancipation Park.
“Fitting that this is held in Emancipation Park," which was established by former slaves nearly 150 years ago, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at the event.
“What we’re doing with things like this, we’ll be able to spark a whole new wave of helping people understand why we say their names across the world,” Trae The Truth said.
“The justice system failed many of them but we won’t fail them,” one activist said of the men, women and children featured in the exhibit.
The exhibition began in Portland, Oregon, on Juneteenth 2020, established by the group “Say Their Names Memorial.” The exhibit has traveled to 25 cities so far, most recently in Dallas.
The memorial will be open from Tuesday through October 13, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
For more information, go to www.saytheirnamesmemorials.com.