Freedman's Cemetery Honors Black Dallas' Past and Future

The historic cemetery stands as a testament to the city's segregated history and ongoing efforts to promote equality.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 12:55pm

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Freedman's Cemetery in Dallas is a meticulously-maintained memorial that represents the city's racially segregated past and its ongoing efforts to come to terms with that history. The cemetery was established in the 1860s as the only burial ground for the city's Black residents, who were not allowed to be buried alongside white residents. Over the decades, the cemetery has been impacted by construction projects, with hundreds of remains being rediscovered and reinterred. Today, the cemetery and the surrounding Freedman's Town community stand as reminders of the struggles and triumphs of Dallas' African American residents.

Why it matters

Freedman's Cemetery is an important symbol of the Black experience in Dallas, highlighting the city's history of racial segregation and the ongoing work to preserve and honor the contributions of African Americans. As the nation observes Black History Month, the cemetery provides a powerful lens through which to examine Dallas' past and consider how it shapes the present and future.

The details

Freedman's Cemetery was established in 1861 as a burial ground for Dallas' earliest Black residents. Over time, it grew to cover about five acres just north of downtown, with more than 5,000 graves. In the 1940s, the construction of Central Expressway impacted portions of the cemetery, and in the 1980s and 1990s, hundreds of additional remains were discovered and reinterred during highway expansion projects. The city created the Freedman's Cemetery Memorial in 1999 to honor the enslaved, formerly enslaved, and their descendants who helped build Dallas.

  • Freedman's Cemetery was established in 1861.
  • In 1869, a one-acre parcel of land was purchased for the cemetery.
  • By 1884, three more acres had been purchased for the cemetery.
  • The last burials at the cemetery took place in 1925.
  • The Freedman's Cemetery Memorial was dedicated on Juneteenth 1999.

The players

Marsha Prior

A cultural anthropologist and member of Remembering Black Dallas, a nonprofit organization that preserves and promotes Dallas' African American history, life and culture.

Kimberly Hill

An associate professor of African American History at the University of Texas at Dallas.

W. Marvin Dulaney

A historian and retired associate professor of history at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Clarence Glover

A historian and a member of the Dallas County Pioneer Association.

Sam Eakins

Purchased a one-acre parcel of land for the Freedman's Cemetery in 1869 for $25.

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What they’re saying

“It tells you a lot about the history of Dallas. To me, it's a very important symbol of freedom.”

— Marsha Prior, Cultural anthropologist and member of Remembering Black Dallas (Dallas News)

“They started these communities because they could not live anywhere else in the city of Dallas.”

— W. Marvin Dulaney, Historian and retired associate professor of history at the University of Texas at Arlington (Dallas News)

“I call them Sankofa pioneers. Because we have to go back and reach ... they were here as the early pioneers of Dallas County.”

— Clarence Glover, Historian and member of the Dallas County Pioneer Association (Dallas News)

What’s next

The city of Dallas has increased security and enforced a curfew at Freedman's Cemetery in response to recent vandalism incidents, in an effort to protect this important historical site.

The takeaway

Freedman's Cemetery stands as a powerful symbol of the African American experience in Dallas, representing both the struggles and triumphs of the city's Black residents. As Dallas continues to grapple with its segregated past, preserving and honoring sites like Freedman's Cemetery can help the community move forward and ensure that the contributions of African Americans are not forgotten.