In 2002, the City of Savannah unveiled a sculpture entitled the “African-American Monument” on River Street, which was intended to recognize the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Local Black folk artist and auto repairman Jimmy “Dutch” Kimble, however, was upset with the watered-down portrayal of the slave experience. In response, he created the “Black Holocaust Memorial,” a sculpture depicting an enslaved Black man in chains made out of papier-mâché and house paint.
The sculpture was first unveiled in 2004 and still stands today in an alleyway behind Dutch’s house, surrounded by a mix of whimsical and serious papier-mâché sculptures intended to educate and entertain a variety of ages. In fact, he created the “Black Holocaust Memorial” in part to help teach local children about the horrific history of slavery.
