Unequivocal Praise for the National Memorial for Peace and Justice

The Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, opened in April, are worthy memorials to one of the nation's greatest tragedies, according to this review.

1 minute read

September 4, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Equal Justice Initiative

DiAnna Paulk / Shutterstock

Mark Lamster, architecture critic for the Dallas Morning News, reviews the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, calling the latter, "most important work of 21st century American architecture" and "the most successful memorial design since the 1982 debut of Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C."

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is more commonly referred to as a "memorial for victims of lynching," explains Lamster to provide another frame for understanding the purpose of the facility. The memorial also "behooves a pilgrimage" to Montgomery—"something close to a moral imperative."

The article provides more description of the emotional power conveyed by the memorial and gives credit to the institutions and designers responsible for the new facilities.

"The museum and memorial are the public face of the Equal Justice Initiative, a Montgomery-based nonprofit that confronts racial discrimination in the legal system. Their design is a collaboration between that institution and another nonprofit, Boston-based MASS Design Group, an architecture and design firm founded in 2008 with the mantra 'justice is beauty' and the express purpose of advancing human dignity."

For more insight into the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, see also an article from July by Allyson Hobbs and Neil Freudenberger.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 in The Dallas Morning News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

June 15 - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post