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.”
