Cathedral to Probe Legacy of Robert E. Lee
WASHINGTON, D.C – Washington National Cathedral will host “Saints and Sinners: Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson,” a panel discussion exploring the lives and legacies of the two Confederate generals and why their stories were honored in stained glass inside the Cathedral, on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Generals Lee and Jackson are polarizing historical figures. For some, they are Southern saints. For others, they represent a culture and way of life that was fueled by the enslavement of African Americans. The program will look at people impacted by Lee and Jackson’s actions whose stories are not reflected in the windows, and how our understanding of the two Confederate Generals have evolved over time.
The panel is one of a series of public forums and events being convened by the Cathedral on the issues of racism, the legacy of slavery and racial reconciliation. Speakers will reflect on the historical and current context of these windows and respond to the Cathedral’s decision to remove the image of the Confederate battle flag while retaining the full windows for an interim period. The discussion among panelists and questions from attendees will provide a rich opportunity to explore how monuments, including the Lee-Jackson windows, speak to past and present audiences.
“Saints and Sinners: Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson” is free and open to the public. The Lee-Jackson windows conversation is an ongoing discussion. For news and updates regarding the Lee-Jackson windows, please visit the National Cathedral Lee-Jackson Windows Task Force or www.cathedral.org/racialjustice.
WHAT: Saints and Sinners: Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson
WHEN: Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW
WHO:
Joshua Johnson, Moderator, host of WAMU’s 1A
Jonathan Horn, bestselling author of The Man Who Would Not Be Washington: Robert E. Lee’s Civil War and His Decision That Changed American History
The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, canon theologian at Washington National Cathedral
Dr. David Terry, coordinator of the Museum Studies & Historical Preservation Program and Assistant Professor at Morgan State University
CONTACT:
Natalie Butz, West End Strategy Team • (202) 776-7700 • natalie@westendstrategy.com