A researcher has identified enslaved individuals believed to be buried at a planned plastics complex in Louisiana. The genealogist spent years delving into historical records to trace the lives and establish the identities of these enslaved people. The effort is part of a broader battle by local community groups, many of whom are descendants of enslaved individuals who worked on plantations in St. James Parish and nearby areas. They aim to halt industrial development and safeguard their cultural heritage.
Lenora Gobert’s research, published by the environmental organisation Louisiana Bucket Brigades and local community group Inclusive Louisiana, uncovered the identities of five enslaved people named Stanley, Harry, Simon, Betsy, and Rachel. These individuals had reportedly died at a former plantation now designated for a massive facility owned by Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group. The enslaved individuals mentioned ranged in age from 9 to 31 at the time of their deaths. Gobert’s findings reveal that most of them had been mortgaged multiple times by the plantation’s owners.
According to Gobert, there are few records detailing the lives of these enslaved individuals apart from financial documents showing how they were exploited to generate wealth for their owners. She suspects that the five enslaved people who perished at the plantation were likely buried there as per plantation customs. Research from London-based agency Forensic Architecture indicates that St. James and neighbouring parishes could have hundreds of potential burial locations for enslaved individuals, identified through maps and aerial imagery showing geographic anomalies suggesting possible graves.
A 2020 archaeological report commissioned by Formosa stated that the company’s property has at least one site with human remains. However, the report cautioned that speculating on the origins of the remains could be inaccurate. Initially, Formosa claimed that an archaeological survey it commissioned in 2018 did not uncover any burial grounds. However, activists have alleged that the company withheld information about the discovery of at least one burial site for over a year. Although the company considered relocating the human remains, community groups in St. James opposed this and advocated for their preservation on the site.
Janile Parks, director of community and government relations for FG LA L.L.C., a member of Formosa Plastics Group, reiterated the company’s commitment to respectfully safeguarding the discovered remains. Parks mentioned that the company has fenced off the burial site to protect it. In a legal battle, an East Baton Rouge district judge revoked the company’s air permits in 2022, citing concerns about pollution and recognizing the significance of land believed to contain the enslaved individuals’ remains. However, in January, Louisiana’s First Circuit Court of Appeal overturned the ruling and reinstated the company’s permits.
Gobert emphasised that more proactive steps could be taken by companies, state agencies, and local authorities to identify, protect, and honour these burial sites of enslaved individuals. She questioned why these individuals are not deemed deserving of protection and recognition. The ongoing research and advocacy shed light on the importance of acknowledging and preserving the heritage of enslaved individuals in Louisiana.
This investigative work serves as a crucial reminder of the need to respect and honour the legacy of those who endured slavery and contributed to shaping the region’s history. The findings not only highlight the significance of these burial sites but also underline the importance of recognising and valuing the lives and stories of enslaved individuals in the collective memory of Louisiana.