The Columbia Peace & Justice Initiative has chosen artist David Alan Clark to create the new Thurgood Marshall monument to be located at the intersection of North Main and East 8th Streets in downtown Columbia.
Columbia City Council approved the project in November.
The monument will stand at the entrance of the historic Columbia former Black business district, formerly known as "The Bottom," as well as the sight of the infamous 1946 Columbia riots, though later dubbed by local historians as an "uprising" in the Black community against Tennessee State Troopers, who ransacked the neighborhood.
Marshall, a young NAACP lawyer at the time, was notable for visiting Columbia to help assemble the legal team who gained the acquittal of almost 25 Black residents arrested in the 1946 riots. Marshall became ill during the trial requiring hospitalization, while lawyers Z. Alexander Looby and Maurice Weaver became lead council in the case.
Marshall later faced such threats such as a "near-lynching" during a visit to the city when he was detained by law enforcement on a faulty drunk driving charge and driven by authorities to the Duck River before being deterred by Looby, who made sure to follow close behind the police car, according to multiple historical accounts, including American Radio Works.
Marshall, despite such dangers and intimidation, went on to become the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
"This statue marks the beginning of our efforts to tell the story of the 1946 Columbia riots,” Dr. Christa Martin said. “This crucial chapter in Columbia’s Civil Rights history has remained untold for too long. We aimed to select a statue that serves as a powerful gateway to that narrative.”
About the artist
In choosing an artist, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder appointed a nonpartisan committee, which included seven members.
These included Martin, co-chair, and board member Eric Jacobson, CEO and historian for the Battle of Franklin Trust that manages Rippavilla in Spring Hill and other Civil War sites in Franklin.
Clark is a sculptor raised near Green River, Wyoming, crafting his first commissioned bronze piece as a teenager.
His works have since been featured among many cities, universities and more around the nation, including:
- Senator Matthew Gaines at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- Civil Rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Rev. Hosea Williams, W. A. Scott, Dr. Rita Samuels, and Dorothy Lee Bolden in Atlanta, Georgia
- President Abraham Lincoln as a young state senator in Naperville, Illinois
- David Thompson, legendary basketball hall of famer from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
- St. Francis at the St. Francis Cancer Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Tom Lee Monument in Memphis, TN for the hero and riverman who despite he could not swim, rescued 32 people from the Mississippi River
Clark's sculptures are often known for their emotional depth and historic accuracy, including his upcoming Marshall statue, a CPJI press release said.
The statue and its inspiration
Clark's vision for the Marshall statue, he said, was inspired by a 1956 Associated Press photograph.
In the photograph, a 38-year-old Marshall is depicted in his iconic trench coat striding uphill from East 8th Street towards the Maury County Courthouse.
This would symbolize Marshall's relentless fight against racial violence and oppression, Clark said.
“The fact that he is walking uphill reminds us that the struggle is hard, and that it is still not over,” Clark wrote in his proposal.
In addition, a noose will be placed at Marshall's feet which is to illustrate the dangers he faced.
The sculpture will also be 125% life-size, illustrating Marshall's larger-than-life impact and legacy.
"I was particularly captivated by how [Clark] plans to capture motion in this statue,” said Jan McKeel, a member of the Thurgood Marshall statue committee and former executive director of the South Central TennesseeWorkforce Alliance.
"It’s not just a static figure like so many others you see. Clark's unique approach brings statues to life, even in bronze. You can see the movement and the muscles, all telling a compelling story through a seemingly static piece of art.”
The CPJI and Clark plan to unveil the new Marshall sculpture sometime in July 2025. For more information about the project, visit. CPJI.org/marshallstatue.
Kerri Bartlett contributed to this story.
Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.
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