African American cemeteries in North Carolina
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African American cemeteries in North Carolina were established throughout the state's history. While many are in decay, interest in preserving, restoring, and commemorating their history has developed.
South Ashville Cemetery is the oldest cemetery for African American in western North Carolina. Odd Fellow Cemetery in Forsyth County, North Carolina was established by the fraternal organization. A historic marker commemorates its history.[1] Some are abandoned and endangered.[2] The bipartisan African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Act (S.3667) was introduced in 2022 sought to establish a grant and technical assistance program at the National Park Service grant opportunities and technical assistance "to research, identify, survey, and preserve these historic sites in the U.S.[2]
In Johnston County, enslaved people were buried in what is now a woodsy area, some of their graves marked with fieldstones. The cemetery continued in use after the Civil War and emancipation amd the property was purchased by a former slave.[3]
List
[edit]- Beechwood Cemetery (Durham, North Carolina)[4]
- Carter Plantation (Wentworth, North Carolina)
- Geer Cemetery[5]
- Mount Hope Cemetery (Raleigh, North Carolina)
- Oakdale Cemetery (Hendersonville, North Carolina)
- Union Cemetery (Greensboro, North Carolina)
- Maides Cemetery[2]
- Black Bottom Memorial Cemetery[6]
- Violet Hills Cemetery in Ashville[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Davis, Morgan (February 6, 2020). "Restoring WNC's Oldest Public African American Cemetery".
- ^ a b c "African American Burial Grounds - Historic Wilmington Foundation". March 9, 2022.
- ^ https://www.wral.com/story/not-forgotten-unmarked-graves-of-enslaved-families-discovered-in-woods-of-johnston-county/21071262/
- ^ Beroset, Frances (May 18, 2019). "Resurrecting Durham's nearly-lost African-American cemetery".
- ^ "The history of historically Black Geer Cemetery – Durham County Library". durhamcountylibrary.org.
- ^ libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/listing.aspx?styp=ti&id=14167
- ^ https://savehemlocksnc.org/saving-lives-in-one-of-ashevilles-oldest-african-american-cemeteries/