Assignment: America’s hidden histories
Over 150 years since the end of the American Civil War, the battle for how communities memorialise history remains.
It’s more than 150 years since the end of the American Civil War. But the replacement of a monument dedicated to the Confederate Commander Robert E Lee with a statue of black icon Henrietta Lacks has proved an emotive issue in Roanoke, Virginia.
In a region steeped in the history and trauma of that war, the unveiling of a new memorial has shone a spotlight on the hidden histories of the United States. As Elizabeth Gabriel reports for Assignment, how we remember the past remains a divisive issue.
Produced by Ben Wyatt
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Studio mix: Rod Farquhar
Assignment editor: Penny Murphy
(Image: Statue of Henrietta Lacks on Lacks Plaza, Roanoke. Credit: David Hungate and the Roanoke Times)
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