New York African Burial Ground Alliance

New York African Burial Ground Alliance
Name	New York African Burial Ground Alliance
Formation	2006
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	New York City
Location	Manhattan, New York
Leader title	Executive Director
Leader name	Unknown

New York African Burial Ground Alliance The New York African Burial Ground Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy and stewardship coalition dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and memorialization of the historic African burial ground in Lower Manhattan and related sites across New York City, New York (state), and the United States. The Alliance works at the intersection of heritage, archaeology, civic policy, and social justice, engaging with descendant communities, academic institutions, and government agencies to protect human remains, material culture, and landscape integrity. Its activities connect local history to national narratives involving slavery, urban development, and public memory.

History

The Alliance traces its origins to community activism that emerged after the rediscovery of the African Burial Ground National Monument in 1991 during construction near Collect Pond and Civic Center, Manhattan, catalyzing involvement by descendants, scholars, and organizations such as the National Park Service, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Early stakeholders included the African Burial Ground Advisory Council, Howard University researchers, and members of the Harlem and Lower Manhattan communities who challenged development plans linked to firms like Tishman Speyer and municipal entities including the New York City Department of Buildings, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the New York City Council. Over time the Alliance formalized as an umbrella for grassroots groups, descendant organizations, and preservationists, building relationships with academic partners such as Columbia University, New York University, City University of New York, and Rutgers University and advocacy networks like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Mission and Activities

The Alliance’s stated mission emphasizes descendant-led stewardship, ethical archaeology, and public commemoration, aligning with principles promoted by entities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, and the Smithsonian Institution's community programs. Programmatic activities include coordination of memorial design consults similar to processes used for the African Burial Ground National Monument, development of interpretive exhibits with institutions like the Museum of the City of New York, collaborative research with the American Anthropological Association, and advocacy for municipal policy changes inspired by precedents set in cases involving the Stonewall Inn designation and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum planning processes. The Alliance frequently liaises with descendant groups formerly organized around sites like the Gowanus Canal and Sugar House locations, and partners with legal advocates from organizations comparable to the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center in rights-based campaigns.

Site Preservation and Archaeology

Preservation efforts coordinate with municipal and federal agencies such as the National Park Service, the New York State Historic Preservation Office, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission to protect burial contexts, landscape features, and associated artifacts uncovered in redevelopment projects across neighborhoods including Tribeca, SoHo, Financial District, Manhattan, and Lower East Side. Archaeological practice promoted by the Alliance draws on methods from Howard University fieldwork, ethical guidelines from the Society for American Archaeology, and repatriation frameworks like the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act while adapting them for African-descended contexts. The Alliance organizes field reviews, cemetery mapping using techniques comparable to those adopted at the African Burial Ground National Monument, and preservation easements modeled on those used by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Community Engagement and Education

Community programming emphasizes partnerships with cultural institutions such as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the New-York Historical Society, the Brooklyn Historical Society, and academic departments at City College of New York and Hunter College. Educational initiatives include oral history projects inspired by the work of the W.E.B. Du Bois Center, school curricula aligned to standards used by the New York City Department of Education, public symposiums like those hosted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, guided tours comparable to programs at the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and exhibitions modeled after the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Alliance convenes descendant councils and facilitates community memorials similar to commemorations at the African Burial Ground National Monument and other sites tied to the history of slavery in the United States.

Legal and Political Advocacy

The Alliance engages in legal advocacy referencing precedents in municipal lawcases and administrative actions involving agencies such as the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the New York City Council, and federal entities like the National Park Service. Campaigns target zoning and permitting processes at offices comparable to the New York City Department of City Planning and litigate in venues including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York when necessary. Advocacy strategies incorporate policy models used in protections for the Stonewall National Monument, historic designations processed by the National Register of Historic Places, and reparative justice initiatives promoted by legislators in the New York State Legislature and municipal officials such as former New York City mayors.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships include collaborations with philanthropic organizations reminiscent of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and cultural grantmakers such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. Institutional partnerships extend to museums and universities including the Museum of the City of New York, Columbia University, New York University, Howard University, and community organizations like the Abyssinian Baptist Church and neighborhood associations in Lower Manhattan and Harlem. The Alliance channels support for conservation and interpretive planning using models from the Preservation League of New York State and cooperative agreements similar to those used by the National Park Service and municipal parks agencies.

Impact and Legacy

The Alliance has contributed to increased recognition of African-descended burial sites across New York City and influenced policies on archaeological review, community consultation, and memorialization comparable to reforms enacted after the African Burial Ground rediscovery. Its legacy includes strengthened ties among descendant communities, academic researchers at Columbia University and Howard University, cultural institutions like the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and legal advocates in venues such as the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Alliance’s model informs national conversations involving the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and municipal actors in cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charleston, South Carolina about respectful treatment of burial grounds and the integration of African American history into public spaces.

Category:African-American history of New York City Category:Historic preservation organizations in the United States