State funds for care of Black cemeteries and graves

Virginia began appropriating money toward the care of historical Black cemeteries in 2017. The state provides $5 per grave, or the average actual cost of routine maintenance, whichever is greater. It is estimated that Confederate graves since 1902 received over $9 million for care, although funding stopped two years ago.

Chart shows 11,702 historical Black graves in Virginia. At least $58,510 was spent this year to maintain them.
The number of Black grave markers will likely grow through ongoing restoration efforts. The General Assembly appropriated $250,000 this year to support the preservation and care of historical African American graves and cemeteries.
Chart: Kofi Mframa/VCU Capital News ServiceSource: Virginia state codeEmbedDownload imageCreated with Datawrapper