The African Burial Ground By Alton H. Maddox Jr.

[Goddess IsIs Akkebala]

The African Burial Ground
By Alton H. Maddox Jr.

Nearly six months to date, Hurricane Katrina hit the lower Mississippi area of the United States. It had a devastating effect on an area which devolved to the United States only after the defeat of the French by enslaved Africans in Haiti. Since 1804, it is not the first time that a hurricane has devastated Black life in the area with the Red Cross and Uncle Sam acting as accomplices.

In July 1992, the General Services Administration turned down the application of then Mayor David N. Dinkins to preserve the Negroes Burial Ground. This was the official position of the United States government. Dinkins accepted this determination.

His acquiescence pleased real estate interests. No federal legislation exists to protect our ancestral burial grounds as compared to Indians. Compare Dutch law on land ownership by enslaved Africans and the subsequent right of English conquest.

Today, Interior Secretary Gale Norton is able to come to New York City and give the appearance that the federal government was always interested in preserving this burial site. The real issue is the land/ownership of the City Hall area. Where is the New York City Council?

There are obviously missing pages of history. Former Mayor Dinkins is now able to take bows for saving the burial ground. Howard Dodson is also able to take bows for his default in 1992. No mention is made of how he became the head of the Schomberg, an institution which is supposed to document and preserve African history.

For white supremacists to reign supreme, it is critical that whites must tell his story. History provides the foundation for any people to frame its major premises. If a people frame the wrong premise, it will always ensure them reaching the wrong conclusion. Our lack of knowledge about our early presence in lower Manhattan is ensuring our continued inability to solve our problems.

History is akin to accounting. In fact, history is accounting. There must be a bookkeeper who makes daily entries in a journal. There must be accountants who make sense out of these transactions and make transfers to financial statements. Auditors must certify the accuracy and certainty of these transactions. To protect our history and to achieve our freedom, we must build institutions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------