As much as it was part of life, segregation followed Black people to the graveyard.
As much as it was part of life, segregation followed Black people to the graveyard.
As late as the mid-20th century in the Chicagoland area, Blacks were not allowed to be interred at cemeteries where whites were. Burr Oak Cemetery welcomed Black corpses and become known as one of Chicago’s first Black cemeteries.
Noted Chicago historian, Timuel Black, recalls that segregation at cemeteries ended after World War II, but Black families continued to bury their family members at Burr Oak.
“We respected and thought that they would respect the remains of our relatives. They did not,” Black told the Defender. “It has become a business.”
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