InvestigateTV - Season 3; Episode 12
(InvestigateTV) — This Week on InvestigateTV: For many visiting the final resting place of their loved one is cherished. But African American cemeteries across the nation face dangers of being erased, desecrated or built over. It’s a problem families say they’ve endured for decades. Caresse Jackman hears from some about the challenges they’ve faced while fighting to preserve their ancestors’ burial sites.
WHERE TO WATCH ICYMI – Watch last week’s episode.
Sacred Ground: Whether it’s a memorial, burial site, or a site where their loved one’s ashes were released, sacred ground is often cherished and honored. But that’s not the case for some people in this country. African American burial grounds across the nation constantly face dangers of being erased or destroyed by development. One man shares his story about how his family’s long history and how his ancestors’ burial site is being erased by development. We also give historical context and legal reasons surrounding why tracking and discovering Black burial grounds is lacking or non-existent in most states—and investigate what is being done at a federal level.
Sacred Ground Part Two: For members of the Black community, maintaining the upkeep and maintenance of the final resting place of their ancestors (especially post-slavery) has remained a hurdle, mystery, and a fight for generations. One family says their ancestors’ bodies were exhumed and removed without their approval. InvestigateTV found multiple cases where the lack of record keeping and funding has left families in a bind. We also uncovered states’ failures to properly record Black cemeteries across the country and explore potential solutions. We spoke with local experts leading the nation in efficient databases to track Black cemeteries, despite funding issues.
Neighbors Clean Cemetery: More than a decade after power crews discovered an African American cemetery in disarray a group of neighbors has made it their mission to make sure it’s properly maintained. Emilie Zuhowski tells us how the group hopes to honor the former enslaved people and their descendants buried there.
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