5 Black American Towns Hidden Under Lakes And Ultimately From History Books
b'
Hi and welcome back to another Elevator Talk With Michelle. I am excited about today\'s topic, where I share 5 black American town that are hidden under lakes as well as from history books. Shoutout to Amber Ruffin! In a video clip that has now gone viral, Ruffin kicked off a segment of her Amber Ruffin Show by introducing viewers to historically Black American towns that have been destroyed and buried by a lake or natural park. They\\u2019re often referred to as Drowned Towns. We\\u2019ve often talked about Lake Lanier, but sadly, there\\u2019s plenty more where that came from.
\\nHere are five you should know about:
\\n(1). Oscarville, Georgia- Lake Lanier is a popular weekend destination known for fishing, boating, and so much more, including an eerie reputation that has deemed it as haunted in Georgia. But one lesser-known fact is the lake sits on top of the Black-town, called Oscarville. Oscarville was burnt down in 1912 and more than a thousand residents were forced to leave following the allegations of a rape and beating of a white woman.
\\n(2). Kowaliga (Benson), Alabama- Turns out, Alabama\\u2019s Lake Martin is built on the previous majority-Black town of Kowaliga. It is home to the first Black-owned railroad started by William E. Benson and the Black school Kowaligia Academic & Industrial Institute.
\\n(3). Seneca Village In New York City. Seneca Village began in 1825 and, at its peak, spanned from 82nd Street to 89th Street along what is now the western edge of Central Park in New York City.
\\n(4). Susannah, Alabama. Susannah, or Sousana, was also flooded by Lake Martin. According to Alabama Living, more than 900 bodies were moved from cemeteries before the land was submerged.
\\n(5). Vanport, Oregon. At its peak, 40,000 residents, or 40 percent, were African-American. But then, in 1948 massive flooding erupted in the neighborhood, and city officials didn\\u2019t warn residents of the dangerously high-water levels, so many didn\\u2019t evacuate in time. The town was wiped out within a day. 18,500 families were displaced, more than a third of them were Black American. Today, that area is known as Delta Park.
\\n\\n--- \\n\\nSend in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelle4466/message\\nSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelle4466/support'