Immigration Focus Day At NEH Seminar
"The Soul is resting in heaven.
Oh soul, live forever..."
-Chinese poem, excerpt
Yesterday, we explored the many immigrant populations that have played a major role in the life of the Delta. We began with a trip to the segregated Chinese cemetery. Many of the Chinese who came to the Delta set up grocery stores. Our guest speaker talked about being put to work in her father's store when she was four or five years old. Her task was to watch for people who might be stealing. Later, as she got older, she took on the job of stocking shelves.
At the funerals, little envelopes containing a coin and a piece of candy were passed out to the mourners: the candy was to take the bitterness out of your mouth; the coin was to buy some more candy to take out more bitterness.
Walking around this cemetery was a very moving experience... I'm working on another piece, which I will add to the blog later, related to this journey...
In the meantime, here are some other images from the Chinese cemetery...
Entrance to the Chinese Cemetery...
Our guest speaker, whose name I need to get from Luther or Lee
Many Christian symbols on many of the markers. Some includes verses from scripture...
Perhaps some offerings left for the ancestors, according to ancient Chinese custom...
We also visited the Black cemetery, which was right across the road from the Chinese cemetery. Some of the graves were set off in fences, appearing to be graves connected through family relationships. Many graves had American flags posted at the stones. A slave who fought alongside his master on the Confederate side during the Civil War is buried here, too: Holt Collier.
Very moving. I think the little envelopes could be adopted here. And maybe a little bandaid to take away the sting of sorrow. What an interesting day you had.
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