19 Black Families Buy 97 Acres Of Land In Georgia Where They Plan To Build Their Own Safe City

Nineteen Black families in Georgia have made a bold move, and it starts with nearly 97 acres of land in Toomsboro. What began as fear and frustration after a string of high-profile killings has turned into a plan for something much bigger, a community they hope will feel safer and more self-sufficient.

The Freedom Georgia Initiative was started by Ashley Scott, a Georgia realtor, after the murder of Ahmaud Arbery pushed her to think differently about safety, power, and what it would take to build something new. Along with entrepreneur and investor Renee Walters, she helped bring 19 families together around a shared goal.

Now the land is bought, the vision is set, and the next step is figuring out whether this dream can actually become a city. thefreedomgeorgiainitiative

Scott said she sought counseling from a Black therapist, and it helped her understand what Black people are facing as racial trauma. She and Renee Walters then began planning a response that went beyond protest and focused on action.

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Together, they started working on making the world a better place. “We wanted to make some kind of difference that could ensure the safety of our Black sons and Black husbands as they went about their lives, simply breathing and being. We wanted to do something to amass Black power to effect real change.”

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That idea only grew stronger as they looked at what was happening in Atlanta and beyond.

“We considered the reality that even in Atlanta, with an exceptional Black woman like Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, there was still no respect for the humanity of Black people,” Scott says. “Even with Erika Shields, a Black woman chief of police at the helm, there was the murder of Rayshard Brooks. We can see that something much deeper is happening. Politics, as usual, isn’t the answer. Something new has to happen.”

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They have joined a number of Facebook groups debating the building of Black cities and new Black Wall Streets, finding many people who share their views and desires.”

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Scott’s profession as a realtor has allowed her to gain insights into zoning and city council meetings. “At first, I attended wanting to get a few new clients, but seeing the progress of the newly created city of Stonecrest, Georgia, inspired me.”

It encouraged her to look more deeply into local political affairs and how cities are established. “My research into cityhood gave me insight that this is how we change our communities and build real Black power.”

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“Black power comes from wealth,” Scott says. “Wealth is created through cash flow and assets. Who has more cash flow and assets than governments? Where does the cash flow come from? Taxes and bonds. Who pays taxes? Landowners. Who runs governments? People. We are the people. We have to be more involved, especially young people!”

This Georgia tragedy, where the father was convicted after his son’s school shooting, is a grim reminder.

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Scott understands that people might start wondering, “What in the world does all this have to do with why you all purchased land in the midst of protests and a pandemic, and how you used cooperative economics to do it?”

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“We figured we could try to fix a broken system, or we could start fresh. Start a city that could be a shining example of being the change you want to see. We wanted to be more involved in creating the lives we truly want for our Black families. And maybe, just maybe, create some generational wealth for ourselves by investing in the land and in creating a community built around our core values and beliefs.”

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The group intends to create a community using green, environmentally safe, and eco-friendly materials. The community will be self-sufficient and thriving, with a food system built by Black farmers to provide food security for all its residents. It will also prioritize diversity and inclusion by hiring BIPOC and women suppliers and contractors.

“We made a PowerPoint presentation the day after we left the ‘Toomsboro for Sale’ open house. We called our like-minded friends and family. We impressed upon them the urgent power of now. We brought 19 families together on one accord during a series of online meetings. We started an LLC. We considered a field, and we bought it. We bought 96.71 acres of land!”

Here is what people think of this idea:

For another family housing standoff, see why this person refused to let their parents move in.