Jasper, Jasper County
Freedom colonies were independent communities built by formerly enslaved African Americans after Emancipation in 1865. Such settlements were desirable in the post-Civil War South, where African Americans were treated as lesser citizens. Located near the Bevilport community, the forerunner of the Dixie freedom colony began as a joint effort between plantation owner Joshua Seale and his slave, Richard "Uncle Dick" Seale, in 1853 when the two men built the Dixie Missionary Baptist Church. During the early years of Reconstruction, many of the former slaves remained in the area and centered their lives around church activities. Dixie Baptist Church has remained in continuous fellowship since that time, serving as an important focal point of community life for the citizens living in the colony. Richard Seale was influential within the community, establishing the Dixie School for the children of the colony. It served as one of the first successful attempts to educate the young people of the area, following a path similar to other marginalized communities at the time through donations of labor, building materials, crops and money to establish the schoolhouse. Nearby Indian Creek Cemetery is the final resting place for generations of the area's first settlers and their descendants. From its beginning, the community reflected values of mutual respect, education and faith. Using these virtues as a guide, the people of Dixie Freedom Colony accomplished their goals through perseverance and hard work. Today, their descendants continue the tradition of telling stories of the past and offering inspiration for the future. (2018)