Community and Memorialization

Community Engagement and Memorialization

Community Conversations were held at various community venues in and around Charleston between May 2017 and May 2019. We wanted to hear what participants thought were appropriate ways to remember and honor our ancestors buried near Anson Street.

Robert Behre and Lauren Petracca, with the Charleston Post & Courier, attended our Egungun Tunji: Ancestors Rise Again! event on February 27th. At the event we provided the DNA research participants with their results and Dr. Schurr and Ms. Fleskes discussed the DNA analyses. Rodney Leon, architect for the New York African Burial ground memorial also described his work. In this Post & Courier video, La'Sheia Oubre reacts as she opens her DNA test results as part of the Anson Street African Burials research project.

In the fall semester of 2018, Professor Nathaniel Walker's students proposed designs for a memorial for the Anson Street burials. Their designs were exhibited at the Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston and at the City of Charleston's new Cannon Street Arts Center (see below).

The Exhibition is on view Dec 3rd '18 - Feb 28th 2019, give us your feedback on the memorial designs - how do you want the ancestors to be remembered and honored? Your input is vital!

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In May 2019 the remains of the 36 people will be reinterred near the Gaillard. What are your hopes for the reburial ceremony? *

What elements of the memorial designs do you find most inspiring? *

Do you find the various African references in the memorial designs meaningful? Please share your thoughts. *

Over the coming months we will plan the reinterment ceremony and memorial, and work with Redux Contemporary Art Center to create art for the reinterment ceremony. How would you like to engage in this project further? *

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