In 1926, Robert and Morena Livsey, descendants of enslaved people in Georgia, bought an old plantation in what is now Gwinnett County. The plantation, built and worked by 26 enslaved people, was called the Promised Land. Now, their great-grandson, Chad, is keeping the legacy alive.
The Livseys joined other Black families to turn the land into a thriving, self-sufficient community. Their Promised Land had its own restaurant, school, gas station, barbers and hairstylists.
Until his death in 1965, Robert Livsey kept the town beautiful for its residents and anyone who passed through. He instilled this community spirit in his 13 children. In the words of his son Thomas: “We can help ourselves, and that’s something I think that we need to tell our children and tell generations — if you see something, if you can dream something, you can just do it. We have that power as creators.”
Now, the old plantation home is being turned into a museum. Chad wants Promised Land to be a reminder that Black families can start with a dream and build something of their own.
Like the Livseys, we must keep our history alive. To learn more and discover other stories like this, check out For the Record, a national Black oral history archive created by Capital B and PushBlack that is dedicated to preserving the stories, memories, and voices of Black America. Add your story to the archive today.