red river sankofa project

Star Cemetery - 2100 Texas Ave Shreveport, LA 71103

Established in 1883, Star Cemetery is the first cemetery organized by and for Shreveport's African-American citizens. 14 African American men, came together and formed the Star Cemetery Association, they purchased over 10 acres of land and Star Cemetery was created. The cemetery is a treasure for the entire Shreveport community. Some gravestones of blacks are assumed to be of those born into slavery, as early as 1815. Many prominent early African-American Shreveporters are buried here. From 1868 to 1874 this site was the campus of Shreveport University, a Baptist College. Entrance located 500 feet NW of this marker.” This marker was put in place a “Historic Sites Signs Projects” by joint efforts between the City of Shreveport, Bossier City, Caddo Parish, & Bossier Parish, which began in 1995 and ran for 12 years. The Highland Area Partnership of Shreveport spearheaded the effort in the first place. Bob Marak designed the signs, the Shreveport City sign shop produced them, Eric J. Brock (historian in Shreveport) wrote the texts. This marker program was sponsored by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau and was coordinated by Eric J. Brock, local historian, and Robert J Marak The project included many historic sites already marked by the state of Louisiana and resulted in 142 markers placed in the Shreveport-Bossier area. The site is also the final resting placing for blacks who served in the military, including one man who fought in the civil war.