Liberty African American Legacy Memorial

04/27/2022

Save the Date! It is that time of the year and time to resurrect the Liberty African American Legacy Memorial. More information to come!

11/11/2021

A portrait of the Slaughter Brothers: Charles, William, Edgar, and Robert

Their mother, Mary Decoursey was enslaved in Liberty until the age of 15 and the Emancipation Proclamation became law. At the age of 24, she married William Slaughter, a craftsman builder who served as a teamster in the United States Colored Troops. They had 11 children together and were pillars of the Black community at the turn of the 20th century.

Mary, William Sr, Charles, and Robert are all buried in Fairview Cemetery, alongside other members of their extended family. Join us in honoring them and all of the members of the Black community by donating to the memorial today.

11/05/2021

An interview with Dr. Antoinette Jackson of the Black Cemetery Network. The Liberty African American Legacy Memorial in Fairview Cemetery is honored to be a part of this incredible project working for the preservation and protection of African American burial grounds across the country.

https://www.talkdeath.com/blackgravesmatter-a-conversation-with-dr-antoinette-jackson-of-the-black-cemetery-network/?fbclid=IwAR3h3_cBfPlfYiFQIHG4pQXDX2pkheRN8_1-6OqXN-3SgjkElvaJGDtC0Qk

As we detailed recently in our article on Juneteenth, the burial sites of enslaved people and historically Black cemeteries have been systemically lost, destroyed, or threatened for decades.

11/03/2021

We are honored to announce that Fairview Cemetery is now a registered cemetery and burial site with The Black Cemetery Network, an initiative by Professor Antoinette Jackson, the University of South Florida, and the Heritage Research Lab.

The threat of desecration to Black cemeteries is a national issue. It is imperative that we work together to protect them and share the powerful stories of the beloved who are buried in these lands.

“The Black Cemetery Network [BCN] was founded in response to the national call to action to raise awareness about the issue of erasure and silencing of black cemeteries throughout the U.S. These cemeteries contain stories about people, place, and families which are often missing from the larger public narrative. Our network connects living records of forgotten histories through research, advocacy, and collaboration.”

Learn about The Black Cemetery Network and view the Fairview Cemetery profile at:

www.blackcemeterynetwork.org

View for stories about Black burial grounds across the country.

10/14/2021

Growing up in Liberty, Rob Weagley admits he knew nothing of the segregated sections of the cemetery and the 750+ African Americans buried there. After discovering that it is highly likely that his maternal ancestors enslaved one or more of the persons buried in this land, he was moved to act. To acknowledge this injustice against the African Americans of Clay County and move forward in wisdom, Rob has generously pledged up to $20,000 as a dollar for dollar match to the Legacy Memorial.

Donate and your donation will be matched dollar for dollar: https://www.libertylegacymemorial.org/donate

09/29/2021

A powerful, in-depth article on Black burial grounds.

Efforts to rescue African American burial grounds and remains have exposed deep conflicts over inheritance and representation.

09/20/2021

Today we recognize Clarence Claybrook Parker, an accomplished ragtime pianist who tragically died of tuberculosis at the age of 29. Join us in building the memorial to honor his legacy and the lives of all the Black residents of Liberty who are buried in Fairview and New Hope Cemeteries.

Read his full bio and donate today: https://www.libertylegacymemorial.org/read-the-stories/clarence-claybrook-parker

08/25/2021

Another wonderful news feature about the Liberty African American Legacy Memorial on FOX4 News Kansas City. We encourage you to watch the video to learn more about the memorial project and its significance in the community. Thank you John Holt - FOX 4 News for this incredible story!

"We’re talking about people who worked hard, who helped build Liberty,” said Byrd of the souls buried in those overgrown plots of land. “There was a Black hotel. There were Black restaurants. There were Black convenience stores. So, we’re talking about lives segregated from cradle to grave."

The Liberty group is cataloguing graves for the hundreds of Black slaves and settlers buried at once-segregated cemeteries.

08/20/2021

An incredible article about the Liberty African American Memorial featured on Flatland today.

“I wanted to know who these people were,” Robinson said. “These people lived segregated lives and were buried in the segregated portion of the community’s cemetery. But these were resilient people who may have lived through slavery, or Reconstruction, or the Great Migration and the civil rights movement. These people are worthy of us knowing about.”

The Liberty African American Legacy Memorial seeks to memorialize 758 people interred – most of them in unmarked graves – in the once-segregated section of what is now Fairview and New Hope Cemetery in Liberty.

08/16/2021

Today we honor Jesse Dodd, Sr., a beloved member of the community who demonstrated that a Black man could own and operate a thriving business in a then highly segregated society. Jesse is buried in Fairview surrounded by other members of the Dodd family.

08/11/2021

Everybody has a legacy. Join us in honoring theirs.