If We Can Save the Ship, We Can Save the Town
Renee Kemp-Rotan discusses how the history of Africatown, Alabama, could be a catalyst for cultural renewal and economic regeneration.
Africatown, Alabama
Welcome to Africatown neighborhood sign. Credit: Graveyardwalker (Amy Walker), CC BY-SA 4.0
Introduction
Features
The Rubric | Engaging Descendants in the Interpretation of Africatown’s Historic Sites
How should sensitive historical sites and artifacts be interpreted? A recent initiative proposed best practices.
Public Space
Efforts and Gaps | Neighborhood Development Plans
Vickii Howell charts the history of land use, development, and planning in Africatown.
Infrastructure
Racialization of Space and Spatialization of Race
Craig Wilkins and Renee Kemp-Rotan argue for an embrace of Black identity and design traditions in Africatown.
Public Space
Sites of Interpretation | The Africatown International Design Idea Competition
Renee Kemp-Rotan profiles sites and buildings central to Africatown’s story.
Public Space
Cultural Economics
Nathaniel Patterson and Vickii Howell examine Africatown’s economic challenges and offer a vision of future prosperity.
Work & Economy
Cudjo Say I Cry | Health and Justice
Deborah G. Plant and Renee Kemp-Rotan explore systemic racism and generational trauma in the United States.
Health
Africatown’s Environment: The Race and Justice Narrative
Ramsey Sprague, Vickii Howell, and Renee Kemp-Rotan demand environmental justice for a community, long battered by industrial encroachment and pollution.
Environment
Africatown: In Summary | The Spirit of Place
Renee Kemp-Rotan celebrates the promise of a unique American community with strong African roots.
Events
January 13, 2021
Understanding the Past/Documenting the Present/Imagining the Future
Event
Understanding the Past/Documenting the Present/Imagining the Future
An introduction to the League’s American Roundtable project.
January 13, 2021
May 7, 2021
American Roundtable: If We Can Save the Ship, We Can Save the Town, Africatown, Alabama
Event
If We Can Save the Ship, We Can Save the Town, Africatown, Alabama
Editors Renee Kemp-Rotan and Vickii Howell and community representatives present the report If We Can Save the Ship, We Can Save the Town and discuss key themes and findings.
May 7, 2021
More about this Report
Lead Editor: Renee Kemp-Rotan
Associate Editor: Vickii Howell
Contributors: Vickii Howell, Renee Kemp-Rotan, Nathaniel Patterson, Deborah Plant, Ramsey Sprague, and Craig Wilkins
Q&A: Africatown, Alabama
An interview with report editor Renee Kemp-Rotan.
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