Alice Michelle Augustine Speaks to Norwood News About Enslaved African Burial Ground

Alice Michelle Augustine speaks to an off-camera reporter at the African Burial Ground in Van Cordtlandt Park.

Alice Michelle Augustine explains the importance of formally recognizing the Van Cortlandt Park burial ground.

November 26, 2025

Alice Michelle Augustine, director of Campus Honors and Scholar Engagement, recently spoke to Norwood News about efforts to memorialize the African burial ground in Van Cortlandt Park. She emphasized the importance of not only preserving the history of slavery in New York, but also honoring the people who laid the foundation for the city’s development.

“The next phase of this project is a turning point. It signals our community’s commitment to restoring dignity and investing in histories long ignored. I want to know their names,” Augustine told the paper. “I want to celebrate their lives. Most importantly, I want my students to understand the greatness of those who came before them.”

Earlier this fall, Augustine was featured in a News12 segment on the burial ground.

Experts in News Office of Prestigious Awards Provost Academic Affairs