Students Reclaim Historic African Cemetery in Kingston

In Kingston, New York, college students are excavating a centuries-old cemetery known as the Pine Street African Burial Ground, which served as a resting place for enslaved African Americans from as early as 1750 to the late 19th century. The cemetery was lost to urban development but is now being reclaimed through the efforts of Harambee Kingston, a nonprofit community group. Over the past three summers, the remains of up to 27 individuals have been discovered, offering new insights into the lives of those buried there. The site is being transformed into a respectful memorial, with plans to conduct tests on the remains to learn more about their identities and descendants. Advocates have also purchased a residential property on the site to serve as a visitor center. The project aims to honor and restore dignity to those interred, highlighting the broader issue of neglected African American cemeteries across the U.S.