Date of Award
1-23-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Heritage Studies, Ph.D.
First Advisor
Carmen Williams
Committee Members
Edward Salo; Kerri Bennett; Lauri Umansky
Abstract
This study is an examination of Black power movements through townbuilding in post-emancipation Arkansas delving into the perspectives of African American farmer-owners, business operators, educators, and community leaders who survived on the other side of slavery. Despite failed promises from so-called allies, or perhaps because of them and other societal betrayals, freedpeople carved out a place in the American landscape to establish All-Black communities and towns popularly known as “Black Towns” or “Freedmen Towns.” In contrast to most studies of Black towns, this study is situated in the South, specifically in Arkansas, to examine the more than three dozen freedom settlements established in the state post-emancipation. To address a lack of scholarship on autonomous rural Black communities in Arkansas, this study examines the focus, drive, and ideologies of town settlers through the tangible and intangible evidence they left behind. No longer bound by legalized slavery, freedpeople exercised their newfound citizenship by migrating to other areas in search of economic and social autonomy. Migrants to Arkansas joined with native freedpeople and developed and cultivated unclaimed lands, built communities and institutions, and participated in local and state politics, creating “freedom settlements.” One of these settlements, Garrett Grove, is used as a case study to counteract the scarcity of records inherent in studies of historically marginalized communities by utilizing ethnographic research, interviews, and examination of geographic locations and landmarks. Freedom settlements espoused a culture of self-help and community togetherness, creating customs and traditions that were passed on throughout generations. The self-determination strategies utilized by freedom settlements also created an environment where women took on leadership roles that illuminated their crucial roles in townbuilding and community collaboration. When outside societal pressures threatened their legacy, Garrett Grove residents rallied against oppressive activities through fierce and vocal resistance. Through the analysis of the history and heritage of Garrett Grove and other Arkansas freedom settlements, the aspirations of formerly enslaved town builders come into focus, revealing their influence on their communities, state, region, and nation.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Shelton, Donna, "A Town of Their Own Making: Garrett Grove and Other Arkansas Freedom Settlements" (2026). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1156.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1156
