Grave matters : the preservation of African-American cemeteries

Abstract

African-American cemeteries are a unique resource. They not only represent the last resting place of black Americans, but are also storehouses of African-American history. The graveyards and the grave decorations offer an unusual glimpse of a part of history which is rapidly disappearing. The cultural customs of those using these cemeteries changing. In addition, African American cemeteries are also being lost as a result of development pressures. Sometimes the locations of the cemeteries arc not known. At other times the cemeteries look "abandoned" and "uncared" for. This booklet will help you to better understand the origins of African-American cemeteries, the beliefs of those who have used them, and why they are so important to our understanding of black culture.