Washington Cemeteries Show Erasure of Black History

Why this is here: The Black Georgetown Foundation has so far recovered around 4,500 names of those buried in the two cemeteries, a process complicated by time and the condition of the headstones.

The Black Georgetown Foundation in Washington, D.C. works to restore and document two historic Black cemeteries—Mount Zion Church and the Female Union Band Society. These burial grounds, holding roughly 8,000 to 10,000 people, face decades of neglect following gentrification that began in the 1930s. Foundation president Neville Waters notes a “spiritual obligation” to preserve the memories of those interred, including his great-grandfather freed from slavery.

The organization has identified around 4,500 names so far, researching records and battling damage from years of disrepair. A bike trail was built over some graves in 1930, and recent vandalism—including the burning of a child’s gravesite—adds to the challenges.

Antoinette Jackson of the University of South Florida points out that these cemeteries historically receive fewer resources than white cemeteries. Despite a 2022 law intended to help, the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act remains unfunded. Recent construction began to address flooding issues, and the group received a $125,000 grant in December 2025, but much work remains to fully restore the sites.