We share the following excerpted remarks by Dr. Joanne Braxton originally delivered as a keynote address entitled “Crossing Consciousness: Birthing Deep River” at Black Liberation in the Americas, Biennial Conference of the Collegium for African American Research at the University of Muenster, Germany in March 1999. The call to visit African American “sites of memory” remains vital today, especially in this historic moment, coinciding with both the United Nations resolution for repair and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. 

“Black-Eyed Susans for Repair,” a new coalition of Maryland reparations advocates named for the vibrant and resilient state flower of Maryland, convened for the first time on February 9, 2026.  In the words of Dr. Joanne Braxton, the convener: “One thing about a Black-Eyed Susan, when you see one, you never see one alone, you see a whole bunch! We are here today at this gathering because of those who came before us, for the beauty of those who struggle alongside us, and also for those who will follow.”

The Braxton Institute celebrates the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC), the first state-sponsored effort in the United States to investigate, document, and reckon with the history of racial terror lynchings. The Commission’s Final Report was submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly in December 2025. On Wednesday, January 14, the commission held a virtual briefing hosted by members of the Commission - providing the public with an overview of the key findings and recommendations.