“Sacred to the Hart”*: Identity and Dignity as Reflected in the Memorial Landscapes of Postemancipation African Americans in Pensacola, Florida

Abstract

ObjectiveThis article broadens the discussion of 19th century monuments associated with the Lost Cause by exploring the monument landscapes of post‐emancipation African American cemeteries and the people who are associated with them.MethodExemplars from several cemeteries in Pensacola, Florida, are used to examine how the postemancipation population maintained deep ties to their cultural roots while assimilating into society as free people.ResultsThe built environment of postemancipation African American cemeteries contains monuments reflecting black identity and dignity in life and in death.ConclusionsExamining a broader sample of memorial landscapes can be a starting point in expanding the national dialogue on our country's history in a more inclusive fashion. Historic cemeteries, especially African American cemeteries established post‐Civil War, offer an excellent means of doing this in a manner that almost all citizens can understand and respect.