African American Communities of Purpose
Building A City On A Hill: African American Communities of Purpose
I recently visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., as I was preparing to launch the third season of my podcast, My Black Book Journal. The newest episode of my podcast (released today) focuses on the book Building A City On A Hill: African American Communities of Purpose. This book looks at ten (10) unique cities formed after the Civil War by Black people.
The book was deeply encouraging, reminding me that Black People are both builders and reformers. We have sought for a long time to create spaces of acceptance and opportunity for all people to thrive and grow. The concepts of place and presence are invaluable to me. I believe that God calls us to set places to be present. These communities are the story of people who sought to find places to be fully present and seen. To be known. To be loved. To be treated with dignity. To have the opportunity to build lives and families. It is an honor to take a moment and step into their stories.
Below you will find pictures from my visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. There was a section dedicated to some of the communities covered in the book.
You can listen to the podcast episode here: Listen Now!
List of Cities covered in the book:
Mound Bayou
Seneca Village
Sweet Home, Capote, and other settlements in Guadalupe County
Greenwood - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Hayti: Durham, North Carolina
Eatonville, Florida
Jackson Ward
Freedmen’s Village, Arlington, Virginia
Tuskegee, Alabama
Freedmen’s Town
Interesting articles to further your study:
9 Historic Black Neighborhoods That Celebrate Black Excellence
All-black towns across America: Life was hard but full of promise
The History of Black Towns and Communities in the U.S., From Tulsa to Rosewood
African American Communities of Purpose - Interview with Dr. Kwesi Kena
