IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section A

Abstract

The city of Athens, Georgia is home to the oldest chartered public university in the country, the University of Georgia (UGA). Built on land forcibly taken from the Creek people, Athens was a economic and political hub for the slave economy in Georgia, and Black communities in the city have a history that dates back to its incorporation. Yet historical landmarks in the city largely recognize only the accomplishments of its white citizens, those who led the university, business owners, and local government officials. This presentation describes one component of an ongoing effort to use mapping and archival research to tell the story of Athens’ Black residents and the places where they have lived and worked. In an ongoing collaboration, the UGA Community Mapping Lab has partnered with a local historic preservation organization (Historic Athens) and other local residents to develop a virtual walking tour of the Reese Street neighborhood. Reese Street was once central to Athens’ Black community, but in recent years residents have been displaced by the growing student housing. These tours are thus designed to serve two purposes. First, they preserve the cultural history of this area and the people and institutions that called it home. Second, they call attention to the ongoing displacement and devaluation of Black residents under the banner of university growth. We provide details on our participatory process and offer this work as a model to other communities navigating these tensions.