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.
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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/