Black Seminoles Turned This Bahamian Island From A Wasteland Into An Oasis

sea and coast line
Via Flickr
Adé Hennis
March 8, 2024

With most of it uninhabitable, and pirates and bootleggers using the land as their hideaway, you’d think Andros Island didn’t have much to offer. However, this island is steeped in Black history.

After escaping enslavement in Florida, some Black Seminoles traveled to Andros Island, the largest island in the Bahamas, to start a new life. And even though the island had a shady reputation, the Seminoles filled it with their culture.

As years progressed, the Black Seminoles established a culture of woodcarving, basket weaving, and gathering crabs for their unique cuisine. This culture is still preserved today as most residents of Andros Island are descendants of those Black Seminoles. Every year, they host festivals to celebrate the island and its culture.

The Black Seminoles who originally came to Andros Island transformed the land.  The community members empowered each other and the island, creating a tranquil and serene space.

The Black Seminole refugees were able to turn an island with limited resources into an oasis of sustainability and cultural richness. Imagine what would happen if we decided to transform our own communities into oases that honor our rich culture.

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