Social Justice
19 families buy nearly 100 acres of land for ‘safe haven’ for Black people
19 Black families have purchased nearly 100 acres of land in rural Georgia to create a safe haven for Black people.

19 Black families have purchased nearly 100 acres of land in rural Georgia to create a safe haven for Black people called the Freedom Georgia Initiative.
About the Freedom Georgia Initiative
The undeveloped land about 130 miles south of Atlanta is roughly 97 acres.
“It feels amazing, feels really amazing,” Renee Walters, President of the Freedom Georgia Initiative told CNN.
“I cry every time I come here.”
This dream all started a few weeks ago during a phone call with her friend, Ashley Scott.
“She said, ‘Ashley, did you see the article about Toomsboro for sale?'” Scott, Vice President of the Freedom Georgia Initiative, recalled.
Turns out that the entire small town was not for sale, just a slew of a few dozen homes and buildings.
Scott, a real estate agent, looked for listings in the area and found one for the land.
“And it was just such a beautiful piece of land,” she said. “It was affordable, and it just made sense that we could create something that would be amazing for our families.”
Creating a safe haven for Black people
The women were interested in the prospect of buying a town in response to recent protests and outcries for racial justice across the U.S.
“When we saw what happened with Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and the protests,” Scott said.
“We both have black husbands. We both have black sons. And I was starting to get overwhelmed and have a sense of anxiety when my husband will leave the house to go to work,” Walters continued.
“So, watching our people protesting in the streets, while it is important, and I want people to stay out in the streets, bringing attention to the injustices of black people,” Walters said.
“We needed to create a space and a place where we could be a village again, a tribe again.”
Connected with family and friends to create the Freedom Georgia Initiative
The two women reached out to family and friends and together, bought what they now call “Freedom Georgia,” a new Black city.
“We don’t intend for it to be exclusively Black, but we do intend for it to be pro-Black in every way,” Scott clarified.
Supporters drove to the land from across the country over Labor Day weekend for a “Big Black Camp Out.”
The plan
Freedom Georgia Initiative says the plan is to develop in phases a fully operational expanded city which will include farming, a lake for sustainable fishing, and facilities for recreation and eventually.
“By being able to create a community that is thriving, that is safe, that has agriculture and commercial businesses that are supporting one another and that dollars circulating in our community.”
“That is our vision, to be able to pass this land down to my children and to the children that are represented by each of our 19 families as a piece of legacy,” Scott said.
“We’re hoping to create legacy.”
Connect with the initiative on Instagram.
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
Crime & Justice1 day ago
Maryland woman sentenced to 50 years after her young niece and nephew’s remains found in trunk
-
In Memoriam2 weeks ago
Beloved former N.J. track star Rashaan Richardson, dies; remembered for his spirit and style
-
Social Justice3 days ago
Video captures Black utility worker being threatened with lynching by Florida couple
-
Education1 week ago
North Carolina college sophomore launches GoFundMe amid tuition crisis
-
Community6 days ago
Georgia community mourns sudden death of 15-year-old athlete Mikah King
-
Social Justice2 weeks ago
Man injured in violent Florida traffic stop seeks support through GoFundMe
-
New Jersey1 week ago
Hundreds gather in Long Branch, New Jersey to advance unified Black agenda
-
Social Justice3 days ago
Jacksonville Kohl’s employee accused of racial profiling after confronting Black shopper in viral video