I believe it goes back to the period when times were a little different
for the
African-American citizen and their graveyards were not respected by some
folks, so they were neglected.
It probably goes back to the time BEFORE African-Americans were citizens.
Maybe it was done to keep the "boss man" from the body after death. Death
was the time the person became free, especially those born into slavery.
The yucca plants to keep the spirits in is a legend from the Carolina
coasts. There are many yucca plants in Indiana cemeteries. They do keep
themselves growing for years. The flowers are pretty and the birds like
the seeds. Too bad they aren't low growing ground covers.
Which brings to mind another thought. It's been two years since my father
died and the cemetery still hasn't put any sod or grass seed over him.
Just bare dirt. The next time I get down that way, I need to remember to
bring some grass seed. It is an active municipal cemetery in a city I will
not mention, because I don't want to get Jon going again. That county
doesn't just have problems with its rural/pioneer cemeteries. They don't
even know where the bodies are buried in the city cemetery, at least not in
the 1910's.
Sharon Howell