As more unmarked or abandoned African American cemeteries and burial grounds are uncovered, Florida lawmakers are working to make sure the history they carry is preserved.
A little more than a year after the Florida Task Force on Abandoned African-American Cemeteries submitted their final report, there’s been little (legislative) action related to the panel’s findings and recommendations. But, in that time, several previously unknown cemeteries have been documented, including a few from the northwest region.
The City of Tampa added protections against future development over cemeteries, after communities raised the alarm about African American burial grounds that were built over and forgotten.