Discussion Post
In 1928, the Okeechobee hurricane ravaged Belle Glade, Pahokee, and other areas in Palm Beach County. It claimed over 2,500 lives, most of whom were poor, black agricultural workers. Because of systemic racism, those people's lives were seen as dispensable at the time and most were buried in mass graves. One of those graves is located right here in West Palm Beach and is now known as the 1928 Hurricane Mass Burial Site, though it was not officially recognized for decades. Read the article "Florida Frontiers: Hurricane of 1928" by Ben Brotemarkle and watch the YouTube video "Okeechobee Hurricane, Storm of 1928 -- over 2500 perished; a continuing social injustice" then answer the questions.
Task
• Were you previously aware of this mass burial site in West Palm Beach?
• Describe and explain your thoughts and feelings while reading the article and watching the video.
• How do you think the erasure of so many people affected the psychological wellbeing of black people living in Palm Beach County?
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.