The Erasure of Black Cemeteries in the United States: A Legacy of Systematic Violence

Strategic Insights -

As I studied the history of public life, I was struck by the parallel between the mistreatment of African Americans in death and their long mistreatment in life. The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in Richmond, Virginia, is a stark example of this erasure. Established in 1816, it is the largest burial ground for enslaved and free people of color in the United States, holding the remains of approximately 22,000 individuals. Despite its historical significance, the cemetery has been deliberately destroyed, with roads, construction projects, and even a gas station built on top of the graves.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground is the largest burial ground for enslaved and free people of color in the United States, with approximately 22,000 individuals buried on site.
  • The cemetery was formally closed in 1879 and systematically destroyed, despite objections from Black residents.
  • Medical schools robbed the burying ground for cadavers in the 1830s, and Confederates exploded a section of the cemetery during the Civil War.
  • In 1960, the city sold a portion of the cemetery to Shell, which built a gas station on top of the remains of human beings.
  • The cemetery's listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022 provides prestige and grant opportunities but offers limited protections.
  • The site faces ongoing threats from development projects, including a high-speed rail project and a memorial design that could harm the site.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 22,000 individuals are buried at the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground.
  • The cemetery was formally closed in 1879 and systematically destroyed over the next several decades.
  • In 1960, the city sold 1.3 acres of the cemetery to Shell, which built a gas station on the former burial site.
  • In 2022, the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • The high-speed rail project could potentially violate the cemetery's historical landscape and threaten its national register status.

Sources:

  • Ryan K. Smith, historian, [Source not explicitly mentioned in the original text]
  • The Conversation, "The disgraceful history of erasing Black cemeteries in the United States" [Source URL: https://theconversation.com/the-disgraceful-history-of-erasing-black-cemeteries-in-the-united-states-264864]