My new camera arrived yesterday, and I finally had a chance to get out tonight and take some shots with it. I did the logical thing and headed down to the Old City Cemetery in Raleigh.

I have spent a lot of time photographing this cemetery; about a year ago I wrote an extensive Wikipedia article on Jacob Johnson, and included several photos I took of his grave and birthplace. On this trip to the cemetery, I focused on another part: the African American section.

If you’ve never been to the Old City Cemetery before, the best way to describe it is chaotic. The cemetery has fallen into a considerable state of disrepair, and the density of the graveyard makes it something of a granite and marble obstacle course. In stark contrast, the African American section is eerily lacking in grave markers. Only a few jut out of the ground, and many are unmarked.

There’s no doubt that the African American section is as “full” as any other section in the graveyard. One can only wonder how many souls rest there; I hope my photography pays them some small token of tribute.