There are thousands of enslaved people buried in Louisiana’s industrial corridor.

“Racism is a largely invisible force that pervades our society.” The graves of enslaved people who were forced to work on Louisana’s plantations 200 years ago have been hard to find, until now.

Using a new report from @ForensicArchi that uses layers of historical maps and satellite imagery, we are able to uncover lost cemeteries in an area now dominated by petrochemical companies known as “cancer alley.”

Our video shows how to locate the hidden burial grounds, a technique formerly used by archeologists, and takes you inside the fight to preserve them before it’s too late.

What people are saying?

Christoph Koettl Today, that area is dominated by petrochemical companies, giving it the notorious nickname “cancer alley.” The continued industrialization of the former plantations is putting some of the possible burial sites at risk of destruction.

Alicia Pharrita #BLM Wow, thank you for this amazing discovery! So many African American cemeteries have been erased by white supremacy.

josie  Only one company, Shell, has agreed to preserve cemeteries they found on their petro-chemical lands. How all cemeteries are not protected is so wrong.