By Tatia Gordon-Troy, Esq.
Published in the February 2024 Issue of Memento Mori
Nestled across the expanse of the United States lie sacred grounds that bear witness to centuries of Black American history: the historic Black cemeteries. These burial sites, rich with heritage and significance, hold the stories, struggles, and legacies of African Americans who shaped the nation. However, despite their cultural importance, many of these cemeteries face an ongoing battle for preservation and recognition.
Estimates suggest that there are thousands of historic Black cemeteries across the country, serving as silent testaments to the lives and experiences of African Americans through slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement. These burial grounds became sanctuaries for communities, offering a final resting place where their culture and heritage could endure.
Yet, these sites have encountered numerous challenges. Neglect, urban development, lack of funding, and natural degradation have threatened the integrity of these hallowed grounds. Many were abandoned or forgotten, overgrown by vegetation, vandalized, or disrupted by construction projects.
The struggle to preserve these historic sites has sparked grassroots movements and advocacy efforts nationwide. Community members, historians, activists, and preservationists have rallied together to protect these invaluable cultural landmarks. Their endeavors involve various strategies, including documentation, restoration, legal advocacy, and educational initiatives.
Documentation & Restoration
Documenting these cemeteries has proven crucial in raising awareness and garnering support. Through mapping projects, archival research, and community outreach, organizations have worked diligently to catalog and highlight the historical significance of these sites. By shedding light on the stories of those interred within these grounds, they aim to restore dignity to these forgotten resting places.
Restoration efforts often involve extensive physical work to reclaim neglected cemeteries. Volunteers clear debris, restore tombstones, and create pathways to ensure these sites remain accessible and respected. Such endeavors not only honor the deceased but also provide a tangible link to the past for future generations.
Legal battles have also played a pivotal role in the preservation fight. Advocates have lobbied for legislative support and sought legal protections to safeguard these cemeteries from destruction or desecration. Many states have enacted laws to better regulate the treatment of historic burial grounds, acknowledging their historical significance and cultural value.
Education and community engagement initiatives serve as vital tools in fostering appreciation and understanding of these sites. By organizing tours, workshops, and outreach programs, advocates aim to instill a sense of pride and ownership within communities, encouraging their active involvement in preservation efforts.
The significance of these historic Black cemeteries extends beyond their physical boundaries. They represent resilience, identity, and the enduring spirit of a people who have overcome adversity. Preserving these sacred grounds is not merely about conserving physical spaces but also about honoring the lives, struggles, and contributions of African Americans throughout history.
Maintenance Challenges
In recent years, media coverage has brought attention to the plight of several historic Black cemeteries facing myriad challenges, some of which involve repurposing without proper consent from families or clergy. One such instance that made headlines was the discovery of graves beneath a Florida high school in 2019.1 The site was revealed to have been a historic African American cemetery, and the construction of the school had encroached upon these sacred grounds, raising concerns about respect for the deceased and their families’ wishes.
In Virginia, a historic African American burial ground dating back to the late 19th century faced the threat of desecration due to neglect and lack of maintenance. Furthermore, Microsoft was working with the county administrator to purchase the land for its new data center.2 Media reports shed light on the deteriorating condition of the cemetery, prompting community outrage and a call for action to preserve this significant site.
Furthermore, news coverage highlighted the plight of the Mount Zion Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where development projects encroached upon the burial grounds.3 The discovery of plans to build a commercial property on the cemetery’s outskirts sparked a contentious debate, with advocates advocating for the protection of the site and recognition of its historical importance.
Repurposing Sacred Land
Instances of repurposing without proper permission have also surfaced in various parts of the country. Reports emerged of Black cemeteries being repurposed for developments such as golf courses, parks, strip malls, and infrastructure projects without adequate consultation with descendants or community stakeholders. Such actions have prompted outcry and legal battles to halt these projects and ensure the respectful treatment of these burial sites.
The gut punch comes when you find that the dead contained within these repurposed cemeteries were not relocated but simply covered up—for example in Clearwater, FL—under housing, freeways, an office building, and the county-owned parking lot of Tropicana Field, home to baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays.4
Moreover, media coverage has spotlighted cases where families and clergy have fought legal battles to prevent the sale or repurposing of historic Black cemeteries. These efforts have aimed to protect the sanctity of these grounds and honor the wishes of descendants who seek to preserve their ancestors’ resting places.
One such fight is now before the Maryland Supreme Court.5 Moses Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery in Montgomery County, MD, is currently owned by the county’s housing commission. It had been repurposed back in the 1960s when it was sold to an apartment developer. That developer erected an apartment building adjacent to the cemetery and paved over the graves of close to 200 people to use as the parking lot. That property is now up for sale again by the commission, which wants to sell it to a private developer for $51 million. The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition filed suit to stop the commission from selling the property with the hope that the land can be preserved.
These instances highlighted in the media underscore the urgent need for stronger protections and increased awareness regarding the preservation of historic Black cemeteries. The stories of neglect, encroachment, and unauthorized repurposing have spurred conversations on the ethical and moral responsibilities owed to these sacred sites and the communities they represent.
As these cases gain public attention, they fuel ongoing advocacy efforts, legal actions, and community engagement to ensure that the memory and dignity of those interred in these historic Black cemeteries are safeguarded against encroachment, neglect, or repurposing without the explicit consent and involvement of affected families, descendants, and community members.
Relocation Woes
The ethical considerations surrounding the relocation of the deceased from repurposed Black cemeteries are complex and have sparked debates regarding respect for the deceased and their descendants, as well as the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.
Relocation efforts involve the delicate task of exhuming and transferring human remains to alternate burial sites. However, these actions are ethically fraught and can be highly sensitive due to cultural, religious, and emotional implications. There have been instances where construction projects have necessitated the exhumation and relocation of remains, often leading to legal disputes and community opposition.
Ethical considerations revolve around the respect for the dead, honoring the wishes of descendants, and preserving the historical integrity of the burial grounds. Families and community members often advocate against relocation, citing the spiritual and emotional connections to these ancestral resting places.
However, in some cases, relocation efforts have been undertaken with the involvement and consent of affected families and communities. When handled with utmost respect and in accordance with cultural and religious practices, some families have chosen to oversee the dignified transfer of remains to alternative burial sites.
Relocating the deceased from cemeteries requires dialogue, transparency, and sensitivity in handling these situations. It necessitates a balance between development needs and the preservation of cultural heritage, requiring thorough consultations with descendants, clergy, and community representatives to ensure that any relocation process is conducted ethically and with the utmost respect for the deceased.
Collaborative Efforts
Recently, the emphasis has been on seeking solutions that prioritize preserving the sanctity of these burial sites while also addressing the practical challenges posed by development plans. Efforts are underway to find ways to protect and preserve historic Black cemeteries without disturbing the resting places of the deceased, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in any decision-making process regarding the repurposing or relocation of these sacred grounds.
In the ongoing struggle to protect these sites, collaboration remains essential. Governments, private organizations, local communities, and concerned individuals must unite to ensure that these repositories of history continue to stand as testament to the rich cultural tapestry of the United States.
As we navigate the complexities of the present, safeguarding these historic Black cemeteries serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering, honoring, and preserving the diverse narratives that have shaped our collective past. The fight to protect these sacred spaces is a commitment to justice, respect, and the preservation of a legacy that deserves to endure for generations to come.
Tatia Gordon-Troy, Esq. serves as ICCFA’s editorial director. She can be reached at tatia@iccfa.com.
Endnotes
- HCPS unveils memorial for those buried at Ridgewood Cemetery.wtsp.com
- How Authorities Erased a Historic Black Cemetery in Virginia. ProPublica
- While working to restore two historic Black cemeteries, she discovered a construction crew digging on burial grounds—The Washington Post.
- “This is not an isolated story”: Forgotten Black cemeteries uncovered in Florida. 60 Minutes, CBS News
- ‘Black bodies are not for sale’: the battle over an African American cemetery. Maryland, The Guardian
