The Headman

On Brown’s Island in the center of Richmond stands The Headman by Paul DiPasquale. The statue is a memorial to the African American bateaumen who navigated the rivers and canals of Virginia during the 18th and 19th centuries. There have been two Headman statues created to commemorate these men. The first, made of fiberglass, was installed in 1988. A year after its dedication, the statue was cut off at the feet and stolen, disappearing without a trace. Money was raised to commission a second Headman, this one in bronze. It was dedicated in 1992 and enclosed by a fence for protection. A plaque at its base reads “THE HEADMAN: Commemorates the contributions of African American men as skilled boatmen on the James River and its canals, and in the development of industry and commerce in the City of Richmond.” The original Headman was found a few months later in a quarry in Hanover County, riddled with more than 400 bullet holes. That statue is currently on view in an outdoor garden at Richmond’s Black History Museum and Cultural Center in Richmond.