In todayÕs world, communities are forever changing, and important cultural heritage sites are being lost as a result of exposure to the ravages of time, environmental degradation, and human intervention faster than they can be preserved. FreedmenÕs Town is a Texas Freedom Colony established after the civil war and a time of segregation in America. Freedom Colonies were self-sufficient rural communities created by African Americans as a refuge from discrimination, violence, and limited opportunities in the Jim Crow South. The history of these settlements is often intentionally left out of US history books. Therefore, it is imperative to document the FreedmenÕs Town community cultural heritage sites, people, places, and things through digital imaging to preserve the remains of the communityÕs original urban footprint for future generations.
People have traveled from around the world to visit Historic FreedmenÕs Town; therefore, the target audience is broad consisting of an array of ages, ethnicities, and genders. In an effort to inform and educate a diverse broad audience about the community, presentations will be conducted through various medians and locations including but not limited to virtual presentations to participants at businesses, nonprofit organizations, and churches. The impact on participants will be life changing. They will gain a wealth of knowledge to embrace and celebrate FreedmenÕs Town History as HoustonÕs History rather than Black History.
The 21st Century 2021 Project featuring FreedmenÕs Town is a documentary exhibit designed to create awareness, inform, educate, and stimulate learning through positive imaging and storytelling using mixed media, photography, and cinematography to tell the story of a people fighting to preserve the cultural heritage of their community. Capturing and documenting Historical FreedmenÕs Town will preserve the historical story of a people fighting to save their culture and community for future generations by celebrating, informing, educating, and broadening awareness about the community.