African Burial Ground

The African Burial Ground is a very amazing place. In 1775, it was originally given the name, Negro Burial Ground. It has become the very last resting place for about 15,000 free and enslaved Africans. The African Burial Ground was once a 6.6 acre burial ground site in the lower region of Manhattan. It was discovered when workers began constructing buildings in that area. They began taking out bones by truckloads, which was a problem. In a video I recently viewed about the African Burial Ground, a woman felt as though it was not right for them to confiscate the remains of “our” ancestors. Also, in this video, I found it interesting to hear of the African Burial Ground as the black Ellis Island and Auschwitz. It was referred to Auschwitz because it is believed that many ancestors have been left dead in the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Middle Passage.
I think that the 19 years of progress has paid off. The African Burial Ground has gone from a parking lot to becoming the resting place of seventeenth and eighteenth century free and enslaved Africans. The work that the architect put into making the memorial was phenomenal. The people who have helped to make this project successful are incredible. I know that without this African Burial Ground, I would have never known about the many free and enslaved Africans that died in New York. This site is very important and can help teach many people who may not have known that slaves even existed in New York. The African Burial Ground should have a requirement that everyone must come and educate themselves at this site.