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Freedom Colonies: Independent Black Texans in the Time of Jim Crow (Jack and Doris Smothers Series in Texas History, Life, and Culture Book 15) Kindle Edition

by Thad Sitton (Author), James H. Conrad (Author), Richard Orton (Photographer) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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A history of independent African American settlements in Texas during the Jim Crow era, featuring historical and contemporary photographs.

In the decades following the Civil War, nearly a quarter of African Americans achieved a remarkable victory—they got their own land. While other ex-slaves and many poor whites became trapped in the exploitative sharecropping system, these independence-seeking individuals settled on pockets of unclaimed land that had been deemed too poor for farming and turned them into successful family farms. In these self-sufficient rural communities, often known as “freedom colonies,” African Americans created a refuge from the discrimination and violence that routinely limited the opportunities of blacks in the Jim Crow South.

Freedom Colonies is the first book to tell the story of these independent African American settlements. Thad Sitton and James Conrad focus on communities in Texas, where blacks achieved a higher percentage of land ownership than in any other state of the Deep South. The authors draw on a vast reservoir of ex-slave narratives, oral histories, written memoirs, and public records to describe how the freedom colonies formed and to recreate the lifeways of African Americans who made their living by farming or in skilled trades such as milling and blacksmithing. They also uncover the forces that led to the decline of the communities from the 1930s onward, including economic hard times and the greed of whites who found legal and illegal means of taking black-owned land. And they visit some of the remaining communities to discover how their independent way of life endures into the twenty-first century.

“Thad Sitton and James H. Conrad have made an important contribution to African American and southern history with their study of communities fashioned by freedmen in the years after emancipation.” —Journal of American History

“This study is a thoughtful and important addition to an understanding of rural Texas and the nature of black settlements.” —Journal of Southern History
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  1. Part of series
    Jack and Doris Smothers Series in Texas History, Life, and Culture
  2. Print length
    257 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    University of Texas Press
  6. Publication date
    January 1, 2010
  7. File size
    7379 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Thad Sitton and James H. Conrad have made an important contribution to African American and southern history with their study of communities fashioned by freedmen in the years after emancipation. ― Journal of American History Published On: 2006-03-01

Review

This book is the first of its kind. . . . Blacks emerge as thinkers and actors on the stage; that is, they were not merely passive victims; rather, they made their own history by building their own communities and by becoming free farmers. -- James Smallwood, Professor Emeritus of History, Oklahoma State University

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0089Q2NL6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Texas Press; Illustrated edition (January 1, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7379 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 257 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

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Thad Sitton

Thad Sitton

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
44 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ross West
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
Excellent historical and sociological treatment of the establishment of African American settlements after the Civil War, especially in East Texas, and including white opposition. Interesting and well worth reading. Both scholarly and accessible.
2 people found this helpful
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Ebonjen
5.0 out of 5 stars Family from St. John Colony
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
I like being able to read a book about Freedom Colonies. Reverend Silas L. Davis was the main person interviewed for St. John Colony. It gave me more insight about the trials and tribulations my family experienced. My family sheltered my generations from negative behaviors. I actually grew up
in a paradise living in St. John Colony. Riches such as strong family ties, respect your elders, love your neighbors, worship, fellowship together, grieved together, share meals, work hard, educated, above all treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. June 18, 2022, we celebrated our 150th
Juneteenth in St. John Colony. I am proud of our founding families lead by Rev. John Winn, Josiah Hill,
Andrew J Davis, Cary Hill, Moses Hill, George Mackey, William "Billy" Carter, Jeff Franklin, Lamar Hill, Calvin Allen, George Arnold, Berry D Davis, Monroe Johnson, Simon Hill. My family still own our family
land from our great great grandparents Josiah Hill/Virginia Wright-Hill and Calvin Allen and Virginia Jackson-Allen. A special shout out to Thad Sitton, James H. Conrad, Jack and Doris Smothers series in Texas History, life and culture. Research and photographs by Richard Orton.
6 people found this helpful
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Gfatherx4
4.0 out of 5 stars Surviving Jim Crow
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2011
Verified Purchase
This is an excellent book depicting the efforts of african americans in east texas to find a place in the sun. A place away from the bigotry surrounding african americans througout america. Even if your ancestors are not from east texas, this book describes the people, their lives, accomplishments and struggles to make a life for themselves. Despite the omission of any reference to Winona, Smith County Texas, one of the most successful community of black people in perhaps all of texas. My personal bias aside, this is a well written, well documented, easy to read narrative of early black communities in rural texas.
8 people found this helpful
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Brennie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
Good book
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ARC
5.0 out of 5 stars Important and transfixing study of African-Americans in Texas from reconstructiion ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2018
Verified Purchase
Important and transfixing study of African-Americans in Texas from reconstructiion to the civil rights area. Very readable , but still scholarly.
4 people found this helpful
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herman wright
4.0 out of 5 stars Great work by Thad Sitton and his co authors
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2014
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The seminal work of African American land ownership and community in Texas post civil war. Great work by Thad Sitton and his co authors.
2 people found this helpful
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Rhayne
3.0 out of 5 stars Hum
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
Great book on a subject of interest. Fast shipping. Problem was when I opened the package the book had a price tag of $2.00 on it. I paid almost $15.00 for it. I do not mind that the company made a profit but I found leaving the price tag on it was unprofessional.
2 people found this helpful
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Lincoln Hansen
4.0 out of 5 stars Tells a story that is not as widely known.
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
While the South was a brutal place for blacks, there were positive stories of black independence and those that helped them. I would recommend to any interested in reading this.
3 people found this helpful
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