The first thing that struck me about the outdoor monument was the scale. I’ve placed a picture of my friend Alice above to indicate the scale of the triangular prism structure at the far end of the monument. This monument really does a good job of impressing the gravity of the site onto visitors.

The museum itself gives a more in-depth, historical account of the burial ground as opposed to the visceral emotional response elicited by the outdoor component. The pictures in the museum demonstrate the physical effects of hard labor on the body. Many slaves developed an extra ridge of bone on their necks which isn’t present in well-nourished people who are not overworked.

Humans are the only animals that bury their dead. The right to bury the dead with a proper funeral and with respect is something humans have cherished for centuries. The dehumanization of the slaves extended so far into every aspect of their daily lives that the colonizers passed restrictions that made it difficult for them to have funerals. The slaves were only allowed outside within certain hours and only in groups of 13 or less, for fear of mass protests.

This museum is so significant because this grave was literally forgotten and lost to history until proposed construction at the site revealed bodies. The discovery of human remains led to further exploration of the history of northern slavery. In elementary school classrooms, slavery is often portrayed simplistically as a north vs. south issue. However, this museum reveals that the north was just as complicit in the evils of slavery. It forces New Yorkers and America as a whole to confront the legacy of colonization and slavery that this country was founded on. This legacy is directly tied to the oppression that people of color in America continue to face today.

The exhibits also humanize the slaves by presenting visitors with details about their culture. They often practiced a mix of their adopted religions, either Islam or Christianity, with their native African spiritual traditions. Display cases contain waist beads and other jewelry worn by African women. The slaves were able to maintain their culture even under harsh conditions, a testament to their enduring spirit. The jewelry and other trinkets were often buried as keepsakes with the dead. A video in the museum’s theater tells the story of a young African girl on a quest to bring a keepsake to be buried with her deceased father. This brings home the emotionally charged situations surrounding the funerals to viewers.