From the Daily News:
THE CITY has dropped plans to place four headstones at a 19th-century Flushing cemetery that was long forgotten and became a park - angering advocates fighting to respect its buried dead.
The Parks Department scaled back its visions for the Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground - formerly known as Martin's Field - to a single obelisk inscribed with the four names, officials said.
Critics insist the grassy plot at 46th Ave. and 164th St. will lack the appearance of a cemetery without headstones, which were eliminated after the city built a playground on the site in 1936.
They say the obelisk will not go far enough to dignify the spot where hundreds of African-Americans, Native Americans and poor whites were interred between 1840 and 1898.
"We have this ancestral need to correct history," said Robbie Garrison, who co-chairs a conservancy dedicated to honoring the site. "It's notorious to just cover up black dead people and keep going."
During a meeting between civic leaders and the city last week, department officials said they are excluding the headstones out of fear that they will be rejected by a city commission that reviews public projects, sources said.
What an absolute crock of shit. We all know city agencies work hand-in-hand.
10 comments:
This is really so sad:( I've been to this sacred ground and it's a shame that the Lives of All who lie there still today to some mean nothing:( Shameful...
Flushing Burial Ground is clearly a sacred spot, hence the name. The playground portion of it is probably less than 20% of the ground it covers. The rest is quiet, shaded paths with occasional benches. It's clear the park is a different place, as it doesn't have typical city benches. There's also a large mosaic at the southern end of the park, and a large plaque/sign indicating the original purpose of the land.
"We have this ancestral need to correct history," said Robbie Garrison, who co-chairs a conservancy dedicated to honoring the site. "It's notorious to just cover up black dead people and keep going."
Why is it just about black people, Mr. Garrison? What about the Native Americans and the whites? I also think Mr. Garrison needs to look up the meaning of the word "notorious" since he doesn't seem to know how to use it properly.
this was a burial ground for the cholera epidemics 0f the 1800's. the dead were all different ethnic persons,not only colored.
this was common,see : Washington Square Park in the greenwich village section.
the facts were misrepresented to the incompetent weekly news reporters and they perpetuated the big lie.
they were told that EVERETT P. MARTIN was a "racist" by a local advocate. the reporters printed the scandalous lie. they both should be made to apologize to the son ,,JAMES EVERETT MARTIN .
he is a U.S. Navy veteran and former president of Auburn University.
see:Bayside Times article by Nathan Duke andN.Y.Times(archives),letter to editor bt Everett P. Martin.
as usual ,this situation was turned into a black Vs. white media /political event. it is without merit.
opt for the truth,not myths to increase class warfare.
Cant put headstones too many 3rd world savages who practice Santeria and desperate who need $$ money.
...they just cant say it and insult "The King"
There is a couple old cemetery's in Los Angelos (San Pedro)where they mapped with GPS then removed the headstones and grave markers
English translation, please, Joe?
WTF does any of that mean, Joe?
I agree with the anon who said the black/white issue is the media's doing. Typical for the media. Controversy sells better.
Blogging sucks on a PDA
Translation= Grave diggers up and selling bones for Central American witchcraft and voodoo.
Take a walk down Roosevelt ave 108st mile away and see all the, chicken blood, feet, heads and assorted voodoo stuff in the bodegas.
I have even seen handcuffs in jars of "red liquid"
I often leave my truck at Willets Point to get work done then shop for cheap sneakers, clothes in Corona. This is followed by dinner in LaFousa (best Brazilian steak & real Sangria) then back to Rodricos shop for a couple beers.
if you research the news reporting in the past, it will be obvious that a key advocate of this issue may have purposely fed the reporters false and omitted information.
the site plaques have had their history rewritten to incite a racial class warfare. the original namesake EVERETT P.Martin was slurred to get his name taken off the site. can anyone prove that he was a "racist". who really wanted their name on this site?
Martin's writings in the N.Y.Times applauded the progress of the Colored/Negroes race at the time.
the bayside times has the data but they will not correct their reporters slanderous article. why??
I often leave my truck at Willets Point to get work done then shop for cheap sneakers, clothes in Corona. This is followed by dinner in LaFousa (best Brazilian steak & real Sangria) then back to Rodricos shop for a couple beers.
Awesome! Joe drinks at dinner, then has a "couple beers" at the shop before he gets in his newly fixed truck and drives away.
His posts sound like he's had a couple of beers.
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