National Park Service Listening Sessions
African Burial Ground
Executive Summary
 

The National Park Service (NPS) held a series of five Listening Sessions with key stakeholders of the African Burial Ground in January, February, and March 2004. The meetings were held in New York, New York. Objectives of the listening sessions were to:

- Introduce the National Park Service
- Define the NPS role, responsibilities, and 2004 plan
- Communicate the NPS program strategy
- Listen to participants’ issues and concerns
- Identify other interested parties for involvement in the planning process

The facilitator, Patricia Singletary, welcomed participants and opened the meetings. She reviewed the objectives, ground rules, and role of the facilitator before beginning introductions of the participants. Stakeholders that participated represented the Committee of the Descendants, Office of Public Education and Interpretation (OPEI) volunteers, Friends of the African Burial Ground, and interested members of the community. Stakeholder participants are listed in alphabetical order on page 3. NPS participants were Tara Morrison, Patricia Iolavera, Mary Mallen, George McDonald, Dennis Montagna, Monamma AL-Ghuiyy, Lloyd Chapman, and Diane Dayson. Not all NPS participants attended every meeting. Dr. Sherrill Wilson, OPEI, attended 3 sessions. Patricia Singletary and Tricia Gibbons staffed the LEAD Alliance team.

In order to use the allocated time effectively, the participants were asked to focus their discussion on three questions: (1) What are the outstanding issues or concerns to be addressed? (2) What information does NPS need? (3) What are the best options for ongoing communication with key stakeholders and a broader audience?

The NPS team was questioned about its current involvement in the African Burial Ground project. Participants noted that the NPS was involved previously. They wanted to know why the agency is involved again and what is its mandate. Some participants expressed dissatisfaction with the NPS involvement and viewed this as a tactic to delay progress. Others stated that NPS could add value to the project because of its expertise with parks and memorials.

The NPS team described its interagency agreement and support agreements with the GSA. Participants asked if the report (one of the deliverables) due to GSA at the end of the community outreach sessions was likely to have any impact on GSA, and whether it would be the impetus for GSA to move on the project. Participants said they expect GSA to live up to the commitments it made to the African American community with regard to the African Burial Ground, including meeting and dealing directly with key stakeholders.

The participants have significant issues and concerns with the way decisions were made and continue to be made with regard to the African Burial Ground. Some of the participants informed the NPS team that if it sensed hostility from them, the hostility resulted from the way the GSA has handled the African Burial Ground project and the African American community. The participants said the past process was fundamentally flawed because the African American community was left out of it. They said they want to be involved before any decisions are made with regard to the ABG. They gave as an example the process for the selection of the design for the Exterior Memorial in which they said the community was not involved. They stated that the African American community should provide the leadership and that self-determination is of critical importance to them.

The participants said communication from GSA has been lacking, the ABG project has been allowed to flounder, and it has not been allocated the financial resources that more recent projects in New York have received. Some participants view this as racial discrimination and an attempt on the part of the government to “bury” the story. They view the building of 290 Broadway on the site as a desecration of the cemetery. Some participants stated they are offended because the mosaic in the lobby of 290 Broadway has not been roped off, and people can walk on it.

The participants asked for a timeline and other communications on the status of the African Burial Ground project throughout the year now that the African American community has once again been asked for its input. They said it is important for transparency from the government in its dealings with the African American community.

The participants said it is important to continue the African Burial Ground project because the story needs to be preserved and told, not only in America, but also internationally. Participants stated that they want a museum, a commemorative stamp, and an eternal flame on the site.

The participants were assured that their input would be captured verbatim through the transcripts prepared by the court reporter. The transcripts will be available in the OPEI office. Lead Alliance will provide a summary of the key ideas and issues expressed and discussed in each session. The session summary, as well as an executive summary of all five sessions, will be mailed to each participant.

The participants were informed about other plans to involve the broader community including borough meetings and focused discussion groups in workshops.

Respectfully submitted by Patricia R. Singletary, LEAD Alliance Facilitator and Consultant to the National Park Service, Northeast Region, African Burial Ground Project.
 
 
Stakeholder Participant List

Michaela Alleyne
Lester Alston
Diane Bennett
Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely
Sylvia Bowens
Lavonnie Brinkley
Robin C. Brown
Rev. Herbert Daughtry
Atsu Kwami Dey
Elowese W. Dicks
Eddie Ellis
Miriam Francis
Verna Francis
Raenice (Cookie) Goode
Arana Hankin
Ayo Harrington
Ella Harris
Joyce Jones
Laura J. Limuli
Ollie McClean
Keturah Nubyahn
Brenda Carpenter Osayin
Adunni Oshupa-Tabasi
Dr. Divine Pryor
Pamela Randolph
Nan Rothschild
Jerome S. Stephens
June Terry
Juanita Thomas
Paul Washington
Omar Wilks