The St. Mary’s County African American Monument was dedicated on July 29, 2000. Located in Lexington Park, Maryland on the grounds of Elmer Brown Freedom Park, the monument serves as a reminder to the citizens of the county of the contributions of African Americans to the growth and development of St. Mary’s County.
Inspired by the hymn “Rough Side of the Mountain,” the stones and the shape represent the difficult struggle of Blacks climbing the rough side of mountain to get to the other side. Plaques mounted on stone pillars surround the central pyramid, honoring contributions in civil rights, religious leadership, health care, education, arts and entertainment, community organizing, domestic work, business, and farming. The community and the county were founded, developed, and continue to grow through the efforts of many people.
At the top of the monument is a metal sculpture representing an eternal flame, commemorating the accomplishments of African Americans in St. Mary’s County past, present, and in preparing for the future.
Additional Information
The Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions (UCAC) website at
https://ucaconline.org/monuments-and-statues
