The Stone Mountain Project
Ever since I can remember, Stone Mountain, a historical landmark of Georgia, has existed. With its large Mountain carving of the confederacy, streets named after Confederate leaders, and confederate flags waving as you climb the mountain, it is very clear what the mountain represents. Even though sister Memorial Park, Kennesaw Mountain, was the actual site of a civil war battle, it is Stone Mountain that has become the symbol of a culture that does not reflect the diversity of our current environment.
Fortunately, I grew up in a household which always ensured that I understood our country’s history, more specifically the black and native history, that my public education often neglected to include in their curriculum. Due to the teachings of my parents, I never understood the landmark to be one of glory, but rather a testament to the cruelty that can exist in humanity and has existed in America; this is a realization I don’t share with my fellow Georgians, who are very keen on preserving that history.
Most recently, Stone Mountain Park made headlines, as the company known as Silver Dollar City Stone Mountain Park llc announced it will be terminating its operating services from the park. Since 1998, Silver Dollar City oversaw all revenue generating attractions to the park such as hotels, events, and theme parks. Due to reasons relating to racial tensions, politics, and historical context, the company no longer feels that it is able to abide by its mission. “Our guests and team members have recently shared that Stone Mountain Park feels increasingly less family-friendly, welcoming, and enjoyable, as the park is frequently the site of protests and division, "officials say.
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and several others have enraged many world-wide, and, as Stone Mountain is a huge monument to the Confederacy, have made the park a prime area for protests. One of these protests went viral, and might be one you recognize. A video surfaced on the news and internet, showing a peaceful protest of armed black civilians walking through the park.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only protest, and not all of them have been peaceful. With the current election on the horizon, tensions are rising between people of differing political associations. Though it is still a very fresh, getting opinions of those closest to the park was vital to understanding the current climate of the park. When dealing with such heated affairs, it’s easier for to discuss points of contention by seeking first to understand rather than overtly injecting your opinion. Considering the nature of the situation, I was cautious when approaching people.
After speaking with current employees of the park, many have expressed concern with how the park handled these protests and they worry what might come about after the election. They felt concerned for their safety, not during times of peaceful protesting, but in the several times both groups clashed outside her office. Though it seems most employees whole-heartedly believe the park needs to be reinvented, I did speak to one employee who felt the protesting was adding to the issue rather than resolving the issue. When asked if they believed the park should make changes, they adamantly said that history is important to remember. While history does need to be remembered, it must be remembered in the right context. The context under which it currently runs is divisive.
As the company in charge solely of attractions and events, Silver Dollar City, actually has little control over how protests are handled. Stone Mountain is a state historical landsite, and therefore is protected by and is under jurisdiction of the state and park leaders. The contract more resembles a rental agreement, with Silver Dollar City being the renter and Stone Mountain holding the lease.
Silver Dollar City can run events at the park and entertain park guests, but as far as making and structural changes to the park, the company is at the whim of Stone Mountain. Herein, lies the issue that a historical landsite such as Stone Mountain presents. The entire park is a homage to a history that has a clear victor, and denigrates all those who don’t fit that standard. For the park to continue existing and being a historical landsite, it will need to expand its horizons to include the history that it currently neglects to teach. If the lark should choose to change its brand and identity to be more embracing of Native Americans and African Americans, then this may influence any financial decision to invest in Stone Mountain and foster a foundation for a better image and overall acceptance.
For instance, prior to the mountain being a place for a Confederate mural, it was a ceremonial place for the Native Americans. Only a few know that it was even included in land promised to the Native Americans by the United States of America. Today, outside of an annual Native American Pow Wow and a few clay characters in the park’s small museum, any history outside of that relating to the confederacy is located absolutely nowhere else on park grounds. For Silver Dollar City, there is only so much you can do to remedy the situation, when you are up against the State of Georgia and a Confederate mural engraved into the side of the world’s largest exposed mass of granite.
Until the state recognizes and implements changes that desperately need to be made, the mountain will continue to be a point of contention. As of now, if the decision isn’t made to make adjustments to the park, the state will pay for the park remaining as it is. If there aren’t any other companies willing to come in and take over the contract from Silver Dollar City by July 2022 or sooner, responsibility of the park will be given to the state. Considering the current political climate, many employees believe Stone Mountain to be too high of a risk to foresee any company to desire taking over its lease. A few have already begun looking for other employment.
While the situation seems dire, I believe there to always be hope. An Organization called The New Georgia Project most recently posted an upcoming project on the Atlanta Artist Relief fund Facebook Page. The project is about reimagining Stone Mountain. Paintings, illustrations, Photography, and sculpting are each methods by which artists can use to explore what the mountain can be. This organization strives to register and to civically engage Georgians, and hopefully this project can lay a great foundation for creating a more united Georgia.
As a current employee of Silver Dollar City, I don’t anticipate actual changes to the mountain any time soon. I do hope that the recent severance from Silver Dollar will prompt small changes, such as adjusting street names and adding more history to the museum. American Architect, Richard Buckminster Fuller once said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” We cannot change our countries’ confederate past, but we can acknowledge it and pledge to be better.
