Alpharetta High School recently issued the following announcement.
Students at four Fulton County high schools produced documentaries about an historic black cemetery, the Macedonia African Methodist Cemetery in Johns Creek, Georgia.
They Were Here: The History of the Macedonia African Methodist Cemetery
Film 1, produced by students at Northview High School, provides an historical overview of the cemetery during the Reconstruction Era through the 20th-century Progressive Era, focusing on the historical context of enslavement and racial discrimination. In this film, students interviewed Dr. Kenja McCray, associate professor of history at Atlanta Metropolitan State College and visiting professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
They Were Here: The Diverse People of Johns Creek
Film 2, produced by students at Chattahoochee High School, showcases how the interaction and relational juxtaposition between Cherokee Nation in North Georgia and local slave owner farmers, many of Cherokee descent, intersected with enslaved African Americans buried in the cemetery. Principal Michael Todd remarked, "These students were able to research this historical location, uncover facts that may have been lost, and bring to life the past that can now be shared with others."
They Were Here: April Waters and the Importance of Historical Research
Film 3, produced by students at Johns Creek High School, focuses on April Waters, an enslaved African American owned by Cherokee Indians and buried in the cemetery. The film highlights the importance of historical research where students had an opportunity to interview the great-great-grandson of April Waters, Mr. Madyun Shahid, U.S. Marine veteran and CEO of Hidden Voice, LLC. Principal Christopher Shearer stated, "The work these students did is incredible. To bring light to this story is great to see."
They Were Here: The Future of the Cemetery
Film 4, produced by students at Northview High School, examines the significance of preserving cemeteries like Macedonia, the legacy of buried individuals and future plans for the cemetery. This film features interviews with Dr. Jennifer Dickey, associate professor of history at Kennesaw State University, and Ashley Shares, preservation director at the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.
Original source can be found here.
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