LISTEN: Town Talk/Slave Auction Block Memorial

Artist Eto Otitigbe and Dr. Gaila Sims talk about the planned Slave Auction Block Memorial at the corner of William and Charles Streets in downtown Fredericksburg. Otitigbe has spent months meeting with community members as he developed and refined the design for the memorial. The concept centers on a raised section of the street marking the historic location of the auction block, creating a physical and symbolic space for reflection. The design also includes a vertical obelisk-like element rising from the site, intended to serve as a visible marker of remembrance and acknowledgement of the people who were bought and sold there.