The African Burial Ground

In 1991, a group of workers discovered a burial ground in lower Manhattan not too far from where the twin towers would collapse a decade later. These were not regular bones, however, these were the bones of over 400 Africans, some enslaved and some free. This African Burial Ground held bodies of Africans in the 17^th and 18^th century.  In that time it was not called New York, it was called New Amsterdam and the burial ground was right outside of its city limits.

In Freshman Seminar this week Dr. Mark E. Mack presented a wide scope of information concerning the African Burial Ground and Howard Universities role in its uncovering. After examining the bones of some of the men, women, and children students at Howard University begun to tell some of their individual stories. They could answer some questions of their origins, physical quality of life, biological transformation from African to African American and their modes of resistance in order to “maintain their humanity,” Dr. Mack said. Howard studied their teeth, the piece of their clothing that did not decompose, and their bone structures.

 In the lecture Dr. Mack continued to answer the question of whether Africans retained their culture. We know they did because some of the African’s had tribal, and rite of passage filings common in some African tribes. Some of the women were buried with cowry shells and waist beads which are worn in Syria Leon. All the bodies were also facing approximately east which may have been another African tradition. Also, the care in which some bodies were buried tells us that there were formal funerals held for these Africans. In one of the graves was a mother wrapped in a white stroud and her baby was also wrapped in a white stroud. 95 percent of the bodies were buried in coffins.

After studying some of the bones of these Africans students at Howard discovered the Africans to be in poor health. One boy was made to carry such heavy things on his head that he had no line dissecting his cranium. Similar things were discovered in a woman who was made to lift something so heavy that it tore her pectoral muscles.

When I first heard of this African Burial Ground and the bodies being examined I questioned whether the grave site should have been dug up. However after listening to the “Ancestral Rites of Return” digital gallery and seeing what was done for them I am partially happy that they were dug up. When these people died their bodies were buried with care by probably fellow slaves and that in itself is sacred. But it is also sacred to note that these 419 bodies were reburied in beautiful sarcophagus’ lined in kente cloth by their descendants. When I visit the site in October I think I feel a stronger connection to the bones of these people who were treated so wrongly yet managed to keep their culture.

 I believe Howard was chosen to study these bones because the school is very strong in black culture and people knew that the bones would be in the hands of people who would properly care for them. Howard’s involvement makes me proud to say that I go here and I hope that I can be a part of something as beautiful as the African Burial Ground project.

Works Cited

Mack, Mark. “African Burial Ground.” Howard University, Washington D.C. 20 September 2011.