Black Cemetaries Bibliography
African American cemeteries are vital cultural landscapes that preserve the memory, traditions, and histories of Black communities. They provide insight into mourning practices, community resilience, and the struggles against erasure and segregation. Across the United States, many of these cemeteries have been neglected, built over, or forgotten due to systemic racism, discriminatory zoning, and lack of preservation funding. Recent rediscoveries in Florida, including Tampa’s Zion Cemetery and Ridgewood Cemetery, have drawn national attention and prompted state-level action. In Florida, Black cemeteries are deeply tied to local histories of slavery, segregation, migration, and community building. Efforts by the Florida Legislature, universities such as the University of South Florida, the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and grassroots organizations have brought renewed focus to documenting, preserving, and honoring these sacred spaces. This bibliography brings together scholarly books, peer-reviewed articles, theses, state reports, case studies, and news features that highlight the historical and cultural significance of Black cemeteries, with special emphasis on Florida’s evolving preservation landscape.
