The Texas Freedom Colonies Project is an educational and social justice initiative dedicated to supporting the preservation of Black settlement landscapes, heritage, and grassroots preservation practices through research
We Invite You to Join Our Community of Practice
Explore the Atlas, add a place, fill out a survey, add to the cemetery registry, safekeep photos and documents related to a freedom colony, and more
The Texas Freedom Colonies Project puts freedom colonies on the map, on policy agendas, and at the center of Texas history
Gentrification, cultural erasure, natural disasters, urban renewal, & land dispossession have all contributed to their decline. Freedom colony descendants’ lack of access to technical assistance, ecological and economic vulnerability, and invisibility in public records have quickened the disappearance of these historic Texas communities.
Featured News
Catch up on all of the latest news on the Texas Freedom Colonies Project.
October 30, 2021: “Reclaiming Our Stories: Preserving Texas’ African American Placemaking History” at the Bullock Texas State History Museum
"Reclaiming Our Stories: Preserving Texas' African American Placemaking History" At the Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress [...]
The State of Black Land: Law, Policy, Latest News, Information, and Resources
Recently, we’ve seen some movement towards social justice for Black farmers and landowners. With Executive Order 13985: Advancing [...]
Juneteenth 2021 Events in Texas and Virtually Everywhere
Looking to see what's going on in Texas and beyond for Juneteenth 2021? Check out our growing list [...]
“What do we need to do? We have to stay involved. We have to educate ourselves, and we have to be bold to fight against this systematic racism and institutionalized racism whenever we see it. We need partners and allies and other individuals to join in the fight to make this happen, so hopefully, we can make Juneteenth a national holiday, and we can continue to educate the public.”
“I have learned so much through my time working for The Texas Freedom Colonies Project, not only about Freedom Colonies and Black History in Texas, but also about what it means to be a truly grassroots initiative. This project voices Black Texans & fosters a space for Black Texans to tell the stories of their communities, and allows others to learn about real Texas history from these stories”
