Story perspectives

Historic African Burial Ground Faces Ongoing Destruction Threats

10/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in Richmond, Virginia, contains the remains of over 22,000 enslaved and free people of color and was established in 1816.
Historian Ryan K. Smith states that the site has faced systematic destruction since its closure in 1879, with graves disturbed for construction.
Lenora McQueen, a descendant of a buried individual, has led protection efforts for the site, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.
Despite this designation, the cemetery remains at risk, underscoring the need for respectful treatment of Black burial grounds nationwide.

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Story summary

The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in Richmond, Virginia, contains the remains of over 22,000 enslaved and free people of color and was established in 1816.
Historian Ryan K. Smith states that the site has faced systematic destruction since its closure in 1879, with graves disturbed for construction.
Lenora McQueen, a descendant of a buried individual, has led protection efforts for the site, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.
Despite this designation, the cemetery remains at risk, underscoring the need for respectful treatment of Black burial grounds nationwide.