Black Lives Matter Totem Community Project

Members of Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church worked with art students at Gwynn Park High School, led by artist Caryl Henry Alexander to create a new Black Lives Matter totem pole. Thanks to art teacher Leslie Hargrove.

This art project was spurred by the church's support of the Black Lives Matter movement which is in line with their first of seven principles, affirming "the inherent dignity and worth of every person". Several members participated in a vigil in December 2014 to "Stand for Love Against Police Violence".

After the Unitarian Universalist Association passed an Action of Immediate Witness to support the Black Lives Matter movement, members attended a Black Lives Matter Summit in February 2016.

Since other churches have had Black Lives Matter banners defiled due to the desire to highlight All Lives Matter. Of course, all lives do matter, but the focus on black lives is due to the fact that there has been a long history of less evidence that black lives do matter, such as police actions toward African Americans being more harsh, prisons having a higher percentage of African Americans, predatory lending to the African American community and other acts that have created more poverty, and a wide disparity in many areas.

Davies church members coordinated with artist Caryl Henry Alexander who has created art totems for the Prince George's County Parks. She suggested going out into the community to find a group with whom to create the totem. Member, Daniel Whalen, who is a history teacher at Gwynn Park High School, suggested an art class and then art teacher, Leslie Hargrove agreed to pursue the project with one of her classes.

The totem pole can be seen at 7400 Temple Hills Rd., Camp Springs, MD, just to the right of the driveway.