Sallie Ann Robinson proudly stands in the front yard of her grandmother s South Carolina home. The sixth-generation native of Daufuskie Island, a once-thriving Gullah community, remembers relatives hosting meals and imparting life lessons on the next generation.
A century ago, 1,200 historic Black communities, founded by formerly enslaved people, existed in the U.S. How are the 30 that remain preserving their legacy amid gentrification?
DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Historic Black communities have dwindled from their once-thriving existence in the United States and efforts to preserve what s left encounter complicated challenges. The incorporated towns were founded by formerly enslaved people and often had their own churches, schools, stores and economic systems. A decrease in the number of these settlements is due in part to amended local ordinances, uneven tax rates, home devaluations and political fights that leave communities vulnerable to developers and rampant gentrification. Researchers estimate fewer than 30 historic Black towns are left, compared to more than 1,200 at the peak about a century ago. While some enclaves stand up to outside forces looking to repurpose the land, others find compromise that keeps the historical legacy alive.
“I’m a big advocate on African Black history and preserving that but also cultivating and scoping that future. What does that look like? How can we preserve but also build for the future?” Julian Johnson, Founder, 1887 First