African Burial Ground

The African Burial ground located in New York city is the area that many African-Americans are able to trace their ancestry too. I always knew that it was a very important site to black culture but once I visited it mixed feelings were evoked in me. The ground is very sacred to all Black Americans who my not be exactly sure where to trace their ancestry because the site is a possible resting place for our family members. The mixed feelings come from the fact that this site was seen as being so unimportant that it was paved and built on over century’s with complete disregard to the PEOPLE who were laid to rest there. Although I was able to see the shrine which has been erected, and feelings of pride and identity were awakened in me, I couldn’t help but to feel resentful over the treatment the site has been subject to. Even today much of the sacred burial area is left buried and undisturbed under the New York City streets because it is not considered to be of great enough importance to reconfigure a small area of the city. Some would see this as racism but in my opinion, until more black Americans begin to speak out against the ignoring of the burial, there is no room to point fingers. In fact if we do not take the appropriate affirmative action to get the rest of the grounds uncovered then we must point the finger at ourselves. The burial grounds is one of the most important monuments to black history in America, therefore we must make sure that it reaches its full potential.