A reminder of Route 1’s segregated past has been replaced by a powerful and inspirational symbol of racial reconciliation.

Over the weekend, the towns of Brentwood, which was historically white, and North Brentwood, founded by Black Civil War veterans and the county’s first incorporated African American town, unveiled a new sculpture to replace the Windom Road segregation barrier that long separated the two towns.

The memorial sculpture stands in what is now the Windom Road Historic Barrier Park, which is closed to traffic.

Made of epoxy foam and steel, the sculpture shows two hands coming together to lift the original metal highway barrier, which is incorporated into the work of art.

Route 1 artist Nehemiah Dixon III, senior director of programs and community engagement at the Phillips Collection, a modern art museum in D.C., originally proposed the design after an open submission process.

He then brought on Wesley Clark, a Lewisdale artist and sculptor who has a studio in College Park and has worked on a number of public art projects to help with sculpting the structure.

The Neighborhood Design Center worked with community leaders from both Brentwood and North Brentwood on the project as well.

Two other pieces of the barrier will be housed at the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department and in North Brentwood.

The plan for the park and a sculpture to replace the barrier took seven years and more design phases of the park remain.

But the metal barrier — which was first installed after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 and remained up until recently as a forgotten piece of history — is no more.

Learn more about the park and sculpture here.

To read more about the history of the Windom Road racial barrier, click here.

Help the Wire grow in 2024!
Make a one-time donation or become a regular supporter here.