Federal Laws Protect African American Burial Grounds – Will Elbert County Comply?
Legal Update – African American Burial Grounds Laws Do Exist!
The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act and the African American Burial Grounds Network Act were signed into law on December 29, 2022 as part of the FY2023 Omnibus Spending Package to locate and identify possible burial sites before commercial development construction may begin.
- The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act directs the Department of the Interior to establish the United States African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Program within the National Park Service (NPS).
- The African American Burial Grounds Network Act approves creation of a network of Black cemeteries and a formal database of historic Black burial sites—including grant funding for research and restoration—under the purview of the National Park Service (NPS).
The laws are buried in thousands of pages of legislation, but we're good at digging! �
Why are African American Burial Grounds Important?
African American burial grounds are important because they are a part of our history and heritage. They represent the final resting places of human beings, including many who were enslaved and many who lived during a time when segregation was the norm.
Preserving these cemeteries is important because it helps us remember and honor the lives of those who came before us and helps us understand our shared history as Americans.
Pinetown Cemetery is featured in the documentary, "Mapping Black History in Elberton Georgia" by April Hamm.
Why are Some African American Burial Grounds Endangered?
Many African American burial grounds are endangered because they have been neglected over time and are often located in areas that are vulnerable to development.
In many cases, these cemeteries are not well-documented or are located on private property, which makes it difficult to protect them from destruction. Additionally, many of these cemeteries are located in areas that lack awareness of their historical significance.
But now, federal laws protect these sacred lands!
Will Elbert County Board of Commissioners Protect or Destroy African American Burial Grounds?
Elbert County now faces a difficult choice, to approve a local landowner's rezoning request or to comply with state and federal laws that protect African American burial grounds in the U.S. and all burials in Georgia.
Let us not forget though, the decades and centuries of injustice that brought us here. Our sacred burial grounds should never have been sold in the first place. And when Parcel E32 037 recently became available, we believe that Jim-Ree Museum (Pinetown Cemetery's nonprofit guardian) along with the residents and descendants of the Eastside Community should have been consulted prior to any public listing.
Again, however, we cannot undo the past. We can only make better, more humane, more just decisions going forward.
YOU Answered the Call – Thank You!
Regardless of the outcome today, we sincerely appreciate your time and attention. Your phone calls, emails, signatures, social media posts, shares, letters to the editor, donations, and comments matter. Those of you who could showed up to the local meetings. Many of you even shared in our tears.
Thank you all so much for standing with us.
Thank you.��
Jim-Ree Museum
P.S. Keep in touch! Become a member on our website, and look for us on social media.
Caption: Jim-Ree Museum Co-founder and Pinetown Cemetery advocate April Hamm at Pinetown Cemetery with the book, "Pinetown Cemetery, formerly St. Mary's Cemetery" by Aurolyn Hamm-White White, April's mother and co-founder at Jim-Ree Museum.
Alt Text: April is smiling and holding the Pinetown Cemetery close book to their chest with one hand while gesturing with an open arm outward toward the cemetery with the other. The words "Thank You" in large hand drawn print have been placed in the open space above April's hand. The book cover for "Pinetown Cemetery, formerly Known as St. Mary's Cemetery" is a photograph of the Pinetown Cemetery landscape, which is rural with a gravel and dirt road down the middle and old granite headstones throughout. The cemetery is blurred in the main photo, but the unpaved road, spring green grass, forest green trees, and a few granite headstones are somewhat discernable in the background.