First National Conference on African Burial Grounds USA
The conference aims to protect African Burial Grounds within the United States of America, elevate their significance, and ensure coordinated, lasting efforts toward their preservation.
Raise National Awareness About African Burial Grounds
Many African Burial Grounds across the U.S. remain unknown or unprotected. Raising awareness will help educate the public and highlight the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of these sacred sites. By informing a larger audience, we can build support for preservation efforts.
Advocate for Stronger Legal Protections
Currently, African Burial Grounds often lack the legal protections they need to prevent desecration or destruction. By pushing for stronger federal, state, and local laws, we can ensure these burial grounds are preserved and respected for future generations. This is crucial to honor the legacies of those buried there.
Foster Collaboration Among Stakeholders
Preservation efforts require the involvement of many groups, including community leaders, archaeologists, historians, and policymakers. By fostering collaboration, the conference will help connect these groups, enabling them to work together more effectively to protect burial grounds. Together, they can create a unified plan of action.
Provide Education and Skills for Preservation
Identifying, documenting, and preserving burial grounds requires specialized knowledge and techniques. This conference will offer workshops that teach practical skills, from using technology to locate burial sites to learning best practices for preservation. Providing these tools empowers communities to take action.
Build a National Database of African Burial Grounds
There is no central resource that tracks the location and condition of African Burial Grounds in the U.S. A national database will help document these sites, track their preservation status, and allow for coordinated efforts to protect them. This will serve as an essential tool for future preservation work.
Elevate the Voices of Descendant Communities
Descendant communities have a direct connection to the people buried in these grounds and must be at the center of the preservation movement. Elevating their voices ensures that their ancestors’ stories and traditions are honored and that their input guides preservation efforts. It also fosters healing and reconciliation.
Inspire Long-Term Action and Policy Change
This conference is not just about raising awareness; it’s about inspiring lasting change. By developing a national action plan, establishing a task force, and pushing for policy changes, we can ensure that the work continues beyond the conference. Long-term action is needed to protect burial grounds permanently and integrate their preservation into broader conversations about racial justice.
