Abstract

This Independent Study delves into the multifaceted relationship between African American communities and their cemeteries, employing a theoretical framework rooted in double consciousness, social and cultural capital, and structural violence. The research investigates the pervasive sense of loss and inequality experienced within African American cemeteries, shedding light on the historical, social, and cultural factors that shape this complex dynamic.

Drawing upon a comprehensive literature review, the study examines existing scholarship on African American cemeteries, highlighting the ways in which these sacred spaces serve as repositories of cultural heritage, memory, and identity. Central to the analysis is the exploration of the historical legacies of marginalized African American cemeteries, leading to neglect, desecration, and erasure of their significance within broader historical narratives.

Theories of Pierre Bourdieu’s social and cultural capital provide a lens through which to understand the mechanisms of exclusion and marginalization that contribute to the sense of loss and inequalities within African American communities and cemeteries. By examining the distribution of resources, power dynamics, and social networks within these communities, this Independent Study illuminates the ways in which systemic inequalities perpetuate disparities in access, maintenance, and representation of African American cemeteries.

The application of double consciousness offers insights into the structural violence embedded within the social, political, and economic systems that govern African American cemetery spaces. Through an analysis of power struggles, resistance movements, and symbolic struggles over space and memory, the study unveils the ways in which racialize ideologies and hegemonic forces perpetuate violence and oppression within African American cemetery communities. Furthermore, on exploring the dynamics between African Americans and their burial grounds, Paul Farmer’s concept of structural violence offers a lens into how systemic injustices and inequalities, sheds light on the nuanced complexities embedded within the African American narrative.

In conclusion, this study offers a rich understanding of the sense of loss and inequality experienced within African American communities, highlighting the intersectionality of race, class, and gender in shaping the cultural landscape of these sacred spaces. By interrogating the historical legacies, theoretical frameworks, and empirical evidence surrounding African American cemeteries, the study contributes to broader discussions on cultural heritage preservation, social justice, and racial equity in contemporary society. It also enlightens how this disenfranchisement reinforces other systemic debilitation and structural racism, deepening our comprehension of the challenged faced by many African American communities and underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address inequities and uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals.

Advisor

Frese, Pamela

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

African American Studies | Archaeological Anthropology | Cultural History | Social and Cultural Anthropology

Keywords

African American Cemeteries, Preservation, Collective Memory

Publication Date

2024

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2024 Troy V. Johnson