Alderman, Derek H. “New Memorial Landscapes In The American South.” Professional Geographer 52.4 (2000): 658.Advanced Placement Source. Web. 5 Feb. 2016.

Derek Alderman in his analysis of monument, memorials, shrines, museums, preserved sites, and other places used to commemorate and sanctify the past in the American South. His research underlies three central concepts. First, memorial landscapes must be judged by the people to be worthy and agreed by others to be commemorated and sanctified. Second, the geographical location of memorial sites influences public views of the past. Finally, memorial landscapes are constantly shifting as government, population, and culture grows and develops. Alderman gives examples of streets named after MLK. He explains how, even though these streets were named to commemorate the great civil rights leader, these streets often reinforce traditional social and economic boundaries in the city. It is this example that contributes to Alderman’s common theme of his article; while memorial landscapes shape how the public views and values the past, they also reveal a great deal about the interests, concerns and choices of those in the present.

I chose this source because it relates to my exterior built environment location, the MLK memorial station on MARTA. I wanted to learn how memorial sites are important to ones community and how people view them.