Ritual

How Did Black Graveyards Become Battlegrounds of Resistance?

A proper burial is a ceremony that many of us take for granted, but that was not the case for African Americans for much of U.S. history. From a man honoring his duty as caretaker for his ancestors’ cemetery to a woman fighting to protect the sacred burial sites of her enslaved ancestors, we learn how taking care of the dead became an act of resilience in the American South.

How Did Black Graveyards Become Battlegrounds of Resistance?

11m 56s

  • Inside One of the South’s Oldest Rituals: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Inside One of the South’s Oldest Rituals

    S1 E8 - 14m 29s

    Across cultures and throughout history, the ritual of the hunt has been the center of gravity for a community’s way of life, despite its decreasing relevance in western culture. We explore what goes into preparing for a hunt, what parts of this ritual are being lost to changing culture and climate change, and the spiritual nature of connecting with the land.

  • Inside the Revival of an Ancient Indigenous Ritual: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Inside the Revival of an Ancient Indigenous Ritual

    S1 E7 - 11m 1s

    Rooted in themes of renewal, gratitude, purification, and communal solidarity, the Green Corn Ceremony unites community members for spiritual cleansing, storytelling, dances, and songs. As participants partake in the preparation and consumption of freshly harvested corn, they express appreciation for the Earth’s abundance.

  • Border Ballads: The Revolutionary History of Tejano Corridos: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Border Ballads: The Revolutionary History of Tejano Corridos

    S1 E6 - 12m 55s

    Tank Ball heads to San Antonio, Texas to learn about the musical tradition of corridos, which are ballads that were created by the Mexican people along the Texas-Mexican border during the mid-1800s. Corridos are songs that tell the stories of the Mexican and Mexican American people: their heroes and their fight against Anglo racism and Texas Ranger violence.

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