The Ground on Which I Stand

Description

One of the last remaining freedmen's towns in the United States ... In 1871, newly freed slaves established the community of Tamina--then called "Tammany"--North of Houston, near the rich timberlands of Montgomery County. Located in proximity to the just-completed Houston and Great Northern Railroad line, the community benefited from the burgeoning local lumber industry and available transportation. The residents built homes, churches, a one-room school, and a general store. Over time, urban growth and change has overtaken Tamina. The sprawling communities of The Woodlands, Shenandoah, Chateau Woods, and Oak Ridge have encroached, introducing opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, the children of Tamina have the opportunity to attend some of the best public schools in the nation; on the other hand, residents whose education and job skills have not kept pace with modern society are struggling for survival and are at risk of gentrification due to the value of their land. Through striking and intimate photography and sensitively gleaned oral histories, Marti Corn has chronicled the lives, dreams, and spirit of the people of Tamina. Twelve descendent families representing different aspects of the community--young and old, black cowboys, ministers, first and sixth generation residents--share stories of poverty and prejudice, their love of this community and place, and dreams for their future. The result is a multi-faceted portrait of a community's undying pride, endurance, kinship, faith, and humor.

Subjects

Other Editions

• The Ground on Which I Stand: Tamina, a Freedmen's TownhardcoverTexas A&M University Press2016-06-06
• The Ground on Which I StandpaperbackTexas A&M University Press2019-08-08