Exhibition Review: African Burial Ground

In the early 1990s, construction on a new federal building in lower Manhattan was halted due to the discovery of several graves. Further research and study revealed that the site, now the African Burial Ground National Park, was a cemetery used by Africans in New Amsterdam in the 1600s through 1794. Over 400 graves were excavated and the remains sent to Howard University for study; experts estimate that over 15,000 graves are buried at the site.

Widespread community protest forced the government to alter construction plans for the site. Now, the L-shaped federal building incorporates a visitor center, and the remaining plot of land has been turned into a outdoor monument, with a large black-granite spiral sculpture and burial mounds of the re-interred graves (replaced after their study at Howard University).

The visitor's center provides recreations of the lives of those who might have buried their loved ones at the site, including information about slavery laws and regulations at the time. During the cemetery's use up to 1794, the site was outside of New Amsterdam limits. Africans and/or slaves were not allowed out of their masters' houses without permission, after dark, or in groups of more than 4 at a time. Historical documents on display show the systemic racism of the time, that prevented escape and denied choice and freedom of movement to Africans who built the city of New Amsterdam.

The displays were educational and interesting, as was the video shown in the theater (twice an hour daily). Taken as a hole, the exhibition shows the importance of the site to Africans and African-Americans. This is a site that holds important information and significance for early African members of the New York community, and deserves to be honored and studied as such. The staff, park rangers and volunteers, were eager to discuss the site and the displays, as well as answer any questions we might have had.

The African Burial Ground offers a fruitful foil to the Weeksville Heritage Houses. These houses, recreated according to their historic uses and residents, show what life was like in the 1800-1900s in New York. New York freed slaves in 1827, and the founders of the Weeksville community build houses and worked, creating their own community as free men and women. In looking at these sites together, we can start to piece together a picture of African-American histories in New York and more fully understand the growth and evolution of this city.

The African Burial Ground is located at 290 Broadway, New York, NY.
The website for the African Burial Ground is here.