The image of a forgotten cemetery, desolate and overgrown, sounds like the ideal setting for a horror movie. Even as they force us to confront any number of fears, cemeteries are filled with rich insights into the past, sometimes representing the triumph over fear and perseverance against extreme odds. Perhaps no better example of this exists than historical Black cemeteries that dot the American landscape. Some are fairly well known, while others are slowly fading from memory.

During the time that Black Americans have had to struggle for basic freedoms, many have crafted their own communities and found ways to honor those who came before. Here are six forgotten Black American cemeteries that pay homage and hold lessons in history.