As debate and conflict rages over statues of Confederate leaders and soldiers, some are crying, “Take them down!” while others are shouting “Keep ’em up!”

So how about a compromise. How about leaving the statues up, but also putting up an even larger, heroic statue of runaway slaves, beside every statue of a slaveholder or defender of slaveholders, in America?

Perhaps we should get even bolder and give every town a heroic statue of runaway slaves. Why? Because runaway slaves are some of the most courageous (and ignored) heroes in American (not just black) history!

I may even be related to a runaway slave named William Simms. Read his amazing story here.