The Athens Reparations Action launched the first phase of its reparations for the descendants of Linnentown on Sunday, June 23, in a powerful and hopeful ceremony at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the West.
The ARA gathered at EBCW along with descendants of Linnentown’s 10 families, some of whom have memories of playing as children on the streets of the once vibrant black neighborhood. In the 1960s, the City of Athens and the University of Georgia seized Linnentown’s land through expropriation, paving the way for UGA’s Brumby, Creswell and Russell Halls.
The service began with an address by Rev. Daryl G. Bloodsaw, delivered by Chaplain Cole Knapper, reminding those in attendance that Linnentown is just one example of the many black communities that have been disenfranchised and displaced from their homes throughout American history.
“What about the American dream?” Bloodsaw’s statement said. “Linnentown is a stark reminder that for some, pieces of the American apple pie are just crumbs falling from the master’s table.”
Afterwards, Rev. Miki Chastain, pastor of Oconee Street United Methodist Church, issued a statement calling on the Christian community to make amends and acknowledging the inaction of majority-white churches in the fight against racism.
“Generation after generation, we have either enabled, participated in, or turned a blind eye to the worst atrocities humanity has ever committed against our beloved brothers and sisters,” Chastain said.
Knapper then spoke about reparations, announcing that the ARA had raised over $120,000 for Linnentown’s descendants, most of which came from private donations.
Chaplain Cole Knapper delivers a message on behalf of Rev. Dr. Daryl G Bloodsaw at Linnentown Speaks, a ceremony sponsored by Athens Reparations Action at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Athens Reparations Action is presenting reparations raised through a fundraising campaign to 19 Linnentown descendants. Events like this are part of a multi-year movement to honor the history of Linnentown, a historically Black neighborhood of Athens. Photo/Samantha Hurley [email protected]
“Today we declare that we don’t have to wait for the University of Georgia,” Knapper said to thunderous applause. “We don’t have to wait for the Board of Regents. We don’t have to wait for our elected representatives in the Georgia State Legislature. We don’t have to wait. To the naysayers who say the preparatory work will never be paid out to black people in America, Athens Reparation Action, ARA, Ebenezer and Oconee Street United Methodist Churches and the descendants of Linnentown who are still sitting here today say, ‘Just watch us.'”
Knapper also discussed the history of black oppression in America and outlined the history of reparations payments. For example, during the Civil War, General William Sherman gave 40 acres of land to each freed slave family, and Germany has paid $86 billion in reparations to Jewish families since 1946.
The check presentation ceremony then began, with descendants of each of the ten families – the Brown family, the Crook family, the Davis family, the Hunter family, the Johnson family, the Smith family, the Taylor family, the Thomas family and the Williams family – present to receive the checks and share their memories of Linnentown.
Bobby Crook recalled that his family was the very last to move out of Linnentown, and many other speakers told stories of walking the streets of Linnentown, playing softball, and visiting their aunt’s house.
Marie Johnson Green speaks at the Linnentown Speaks ceremony sponsored by Athens Reparations Action at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia, Sunday, June 23, 2024. Photo/Samantha Hurley [email protected]
Marie Johnson, who was a young girl when Linnentown and her home were destroyed, struggled to get to the podium to speak, but stood up despite having the opportunity to deliver her speech from her seat.
“I decided to stand up, just like my father stood up back then. When we thought it was impossible to stand up, he stood up. I stand here today for him.”
Others used the platform to criticize the University of Georgia and the University System of Georgia for failing to pay any compensation to the Linnentown family’s descendants.
“The past actions of the University of Georgia system were a true example of racist and discriminatory acts – a pure example of the willingness of one group to exploit its power and privilege over another group,” said Xernona J. Thomas, granddaughter of Fred and Susie Mae Brown, who were expelled from Linnentown in the 1960s.
Some speakers were overwhelmed by their emotions and shed tears at the podium as they recalled being evicted from their parents’ homes.
“It was awful,” said Linda Thomas, who grew up in Linnentown. “I just want to thank everybody who helped us. You know, it was just awful.”
Linda Thomas, Marion Thomas Craft and Hattie Thomas Whitehead speak at the Linnentown Speaks ceremony sponsored by Athens Reparations Action at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia, Sunday, June 23, 2024. Photo/Samantha Hurley [email protected]
After all the descendants received their compensation checks, a group photo was taken and a celebratory dinner was held. Although the money is only a fraction of what UGA professor Jerry Shannon says the descendants are owed ($5 million), the ARA still believes this is the first time in Georgia, and possibly the country, that a black community has received reparations for past wrongdoings, and that Sunday’s service is therefore a pivotal moment in history.
The descendants of Linnentown first came together in 2019 and began conversations about Linnentown, culminating in the formation of the ARA in 2021, with the mission to “promote public awareness and recognition of the financial impact of urban renewal on Black homeowners in Athens and to work toward redressing the harm caused.”
In 2021, the Mayor and Commission of the ACC passed the Linnentown Resolution establishing the Justice and Remembrance Committee, which determined the extent of the asset loss suffered by Linnentown residents and made recommendations to the Commission on reparations for descendants. Mayor Kelly Girtz also signed a proclamation formally apologizing to Athens residents displaced by urban renewal projects.
