Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground facts for kids

The Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground is a very old and important burial place in Richmond, Virginia. It was once known as the "Burial Ground for Negroes." This site was used to bury both enslaved people and free people of color. It is located in an area called Shockoe Bottom, right across from where a famous jail, Lumpkin's Jail, used to be. Richmond has another, larger African burial ground called the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, which is about a mile and a half away.

History of the Burial Ground

The Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground might have been started as early as 1750. However, land records show it was officially established in 1799. This burial ground stopped accepting new burials in 1816. That's when the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground opened.

How the Land Was Used

In 1799, the city of Richmond bought two pieces of land for its burial grounds. A larger piece of land was bought on Shockoe Hill. A much smaller piece was bought in Shockoe Valley, which is now known as Shockoe Bottom. The land on Shockoe Hill was for white burials. The land in Shockoe Valley was meant for Black burials.

The "Burial Ground for Negroes" was shown on an 1809 map of Richmond. After 1804, the city also used this site for its gallows, which was a place for executions. The map also shows a powder magazine, a building for storing gunpowder, at this location.

For a long time, people thought that Gabriel, a leader of a famous slave rebellion called Gabriel's Rebellion, was executed and buried here in 1800 with 25 of his followers. However, newer research suggests their executions might have happened elsewhere. The exact burial spots are still unknown.

Challenges and Changes

The land where the Burial Ground for Negroes was located was very close to Shockoe Creek. This made it a poor choice for a burial ground. Heavy rains often disturbed the site.

Christopher McPherson, a formerly enslaved free man, wrote about the terrible conditions of the burial ground in his 1810 book. He described how bad it was. McPherson wrote a request to the Richmond City Council asking for a new burial ground for free people of color.

His request led to the creation of the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground. This new burial ground opened in 1816. It had separate sections for free people of color and enslaved people. Once the new burial ground opened, the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground was closed.

The city quickly changed how the old site was used. A school was built there in 1816. Later, the city jail was also constructed on the site. The burial ground completely disappeared from view and from people's memories.

Rediscovery and Reclamation

It wasn't until the 1990s that a local historian, Elizabeth Kambourian, found the burial ground on an old map. At that time, the site had become a parking lot. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) bought this parking lot around 2004.

Soon after, activists quickly organized. They fought to reclaim the burial ground and recognize its importance. An important group formed from this effort is the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project. This group, part of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality, continues to work to protect and honor the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground.

Commemorating the Site

People now hold events to remember and honor the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground.

Annual Events and Tributes

The first public event to recognize the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground happened in 2002. It was during Elegba Folklore Society's Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration. This event continues to honor the site every year. The Elegba Folklore Society also leads cultural history tours that include a tribute to this important burial ground.

The Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project holds a community gathering every October. This event, called the Annual Gabriel Gathering, honors Gabriel and all those who fought for freedom. It also celebrates more than 20 years of learning about this sacred place. The event helps to rededicate efforts to reclaim and properly remember the Shockoe Bottom area. This area was once a very important center for the buying and selling of enslaved people in the U.S.