Gaskin: The rise and destruction of Freedom Colonies

While Black Wall Streets were business hubs within larger cities, Freedom Colonies were rural, self-sufficient Black settlements built by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. These communities were designed for safety, land ownership, and independence — far removed from white economic control.

Yet, like Black Wall Streets, Freedom Colonies faced destruction through systemic racism, land theft, and economic displacement.

While Black Wall Streets focused on commerce and entrepreneurship within city limits — often thriving despite intense racial segregation — Freedom Colonies were entirely Black-led enclaves, intentionally separated from white communities. They were created not only for survival but also for self-determination, cultural preservation, and freedom from white economic