A community leader fights to resurrect and preserve the rich history of a sacred African American burial ground in the heart of Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC — There are a number of institutions in the Washington D.C. area that help us grasp, as a people, where we have been and where we’re going. This article spotlights two efforts to preserve and teach our history. The first is a highly visible effort, soon to be erected on the Mall with established resources; the second is virtually obscure among Washington’s historic features, but under construction by a local community group to study our heritage, a heritage that equips our youth to visualize a future worth fighting for.
Major construction is currently underway on the grounds of the Smithsonian for the establishment of the first of its kind African American History Museum. This new institution will tell the story of a people and their contributions in building this country—a story that has been in many cases overlooked and under-recognized in modern American history. The African American History Museum is scheduled to open in 2016.
At the same time, one of the most historic landmarks in our nation’s capital is also under development. Woodlawn Cemetery, at 4611 Benning Road, contains more than a century of historic political figures, founders of national organizations and thousands of slaves who have been laid to rest after living significant lives that impacted the African American tapestry. One of the largest historic cemeteries, Woodlawn’s 22 acres of rolling hills inters more than 36,000 individuals. They include notable figures such as John Mercer Langston, U.S. Representative from Virginia who served office from 1869 to 1879. Blanche K. Bruce, born a slave in 1841 was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1875. She shares the grounds with thousands of ancestors whose stories are steeped in the evolution of a race and a nation.
Members of the Woodlawn Cemetery Association have made the resurrection of this historic cemetery their mission. They work tirelessly to breathe life into this important piece of American History, unlocking the stories of former slaves and major historic figures that have been lost overtime. Their goal is to preserve African American history and share the rich heritage of ancestors with our youth and the world.
The work of the Association is refurbishing the grounds and ensuring that all of the interred on the property are appropriately identified and placed in a database system.
We are asking that the surrounding community and the nation come together to support this restorative effort. There are lessons to be learned from our ancestors about shaping our future. The Woodlawn Cemetery is being developed to honor the voiceless millions that have since passed, but left a legacy to our youth for building a better life. Visit the website at historicwoodlawndc.org.
Rev. Dr. Edwin Jones is Vice President of the Woodlawn Cemetery Association Board of Directors, Senior Pastor of Living Faith Baptist Church and International Ministries, and a community activist. Contact him at christianeddirec@aol.com.
