A “Call to the Ancestors” comes to Miami (includes video story)

The Lincoln Memorial Park, founded in Brownsville in 1924, is the final resting place for scores of African American Miamians. Although it’s fallen into disrepair, the cemetery is currently being restored. 

This past weekend, an event at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, where dozens of people looked at photos related to the grave yard’s history and work by local artists. It was termed “A Call to the Ancestors.” 

The exhibit was backed by a multimillion dollar grant from the Mellon Foundation to Florida International University as part of the Commons for Justice project, which strives to support and identify race, risk, and resilience problems, predominantly in marginalized communities of color. 

It also aims to promote unity and emotional healing throughout Miami neighborhoods.

“I believe in hope, I am in the business of hope,” said photographer Carl Juste, who co-directed the exhibit with FIU’s Rebecca Friedman. “And I think Mellon is in the business of hope also.”

Cassandra Alonso

Cassandra Alonso is a senior TV and multimedia production student at Florida International University. She is well-versed in all areas of media and has been interested in it since she was young. She has worked on editing high school yearbooks and has a strong passion for writing, editing, photography, and social media. She creates her own content online and has enjoyed networking within FIU. She looks forward to taking leadership roles and loves working with other people. Her goal is to indulge in all aspects of the TV production industry, create her own productions, and expand her interests further.