Statement of Ethics

This website is dedicated to exploring the history of lynching in the state of Alabama. Our hope is to provide a comprehensive resource that seeks to fully remember who victims of racial terror were – who they loved, where they lived and worked, and what they left behind. This complex and violent history demands that we uphold the highest ethical standards of scholarship to present the material in a compassionate and accurate way. This document outlines our ethical approach. 

Integrity

We are committed to preserving and presenting accurate information. We aim to provide historical context that facilitates an understanding about lynching victims without lessening the gravity of the subject matter. All data and images on the website are appropriately attributed to their original sources.

Communities

We recognize that lynching represents not just a historical fact but a profound human tragedy and assault upon a person’s family and community. Our content is designed to honor the memory of victims by presenting their stories with sensitivity and respect. Our focus is on education and remembrance.

We seek to push beyond the most common source for telling the history of lynchings—southern white newspapers. They routinely sensationalized lynching cases through their prose and pictures and cared little about truth and justice. We rely on them only to help identify victims’ names, where and when they were killed, and relevant biographical data like the name of a spouse or family member. Then, we consult birth and death records, census data, voting records, jail and prison manifests, court hearings and grand jury testimonies, Black newspapers, and oral histories to paint a more accurate portrait of the victims.

Educational Purpose

We seek to educate visitors about the history and impact of lynching. By offering unrestricted access to our research, a search engine for the data, and transcripts of all sources, we hope to encourage users to reflect on the implications of this history and its legacies today. In our bibliography, we offer a range of content that engages different learning styles and promotes comprehensive understanding.

Public Engagement

We aim to work closely with descendant communities and respect their wishes about how to research loved ones lost to lynching. Our work with the Elmore County Black History Museum is a model. Since 2020, we have partnered with them to track down the history of local victims, preserve newspaper and legal records about each case, and take oral histories of surviving family members. In accordance with the wishes of the board, we leave all data and research at the museum itself. It is fully owned and cared for by the curators.

Our website aims to create a safe environment for users to engage with the material and with each other. We encourage respectful dialogue and are available through email to answer questions and clarify any points of the research.

Our approach to racial justice, archival research, inclusive and reparative scholarship, data stewardship, and community engagement informs how we develop and execute our mission of making information about lynching in Alabama widely accessible for all. We recognize that our institution is among the many that benefited from the stolen labors and cultural patrimony of Native, African, and African-descended peoples.

Transparency and Accountability

We welcome feedback about the content, presentation, and functionality of the website. It is crucial for ensuring the website meets the needs of its audience. We regularly update our content to reflect the most current scholarship and discourse surrounding the history of lynching. We periodically review and consult with fellow scholars concerning our material and practices to assure adherence to our ethical standards.

Conclusion

The history of lynching in Alabama requires meticulous and respectful examination. Our dedication to these ethical standards lies at the core of our study and how we present this material, honor the victims, and engage with our community. By adhering to these principles, we hope to contribute positively to the ongoing discussions about race, justice, and remembrance. Please join us in this exploration. Together, we can honor the past while working toward a more just future.