New video workshops teach restoration of historic Black sites in Georgia

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation has launched a new video series, putting the power of historical preservation of Black resources in the hands of Georgians.

The Trust’s series features workshops with experts and community advocates, teaching people how to properly identify, restore and support important, and often overlooked African American historic sites.

“It’s kind of a soup-to-nuts sort of video series,” said Wright Mitchell, president and CEO of the Trust. “African American historic resources have suffered from disinvestment, lack of interest over the years, and that is why they are in the condition that they’re in.”

Mitchell stood with Atlanta News First Wednesday in the middle of Mount Olive Cemetery, a historic Black resting place in Buckhead’s Bagley Park. The park was once Macedonia Park, a thriving Black neighborhood that was acquired by Fulton County in the 1940s and 50s through coercive land buyouts and eminent domain. Over time, the cemetery fell into bad condition.

“Up until probably 10 years ago, this was completely overgrown and it was vandalized regularly,” said Mitchell. “In fact, no one even knew it was here.”

Mitchell said he grew up playing baseball at Bagley Park just feet away and never knew about Mount Olive Cemetery. It was later restored by the Buckhead Heritage Society and is one example of overlooked or forgotten pieces of Georgia’s Black history that Mitchell said need more advocacy.

“Georgia has about 80,000 sites that are on the national registry of historic places but only about 9% of those are minority resources, African American resources,” he said. “There’s a big disconnect between the demographics of Georgia and that representation on the national register.”

The Trust’s new video series wants to empower anyone with a willingness to help to have the proper knowledge and resources. Its workshops span from technical restoration of cemeteries, churches and Civil Rights sites to seminars on fundraising and founding and staffing nonprofits.

“It shows people what’s possible,” said Mitchell. “Without this, you lose the context.”

To watch the video series, click here.

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