Which counties are part of the Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area?
Imagination and the Land: Arts, Crafts, and Folkways
Architecture
There is a considerable amount of scholarship that needs to be done on the architecture of the Black Belt region of Alabama. To date, much of the research has been focused on antebellum history and architecture of the region which was influenced by the plantation culture that flourished until the latter part of the nineteenth century. The architecture that grew out of this plantation culture produced some of the finest churches and rural residences in the state, including Rosemount and Thornhill in Greene, Countryside in Camden, and Gaineswood in Demopolis.
Music and Literature
Not to be forgotten is the artistry of the written word created by countless authors who have compiled the rich stories of the Black Belt; the many musical genres which reflect the various interests of the region’s inhabitants – from traditional classical music to bluegrass, gospel, jazz and blues; and the many photographers who capture the region’s people, nature and landscapes. The power of both the spoken and written word created a middle ground for all citizens to cross cultural boundaries and connect with one another.
Craft Goods and Traditions
The story of the Wilcox County’s Gees Bend quilters has circled the globe and come home again to add beauty to everyday life. The quilts of these wonderful ladies now hang in the Smithsonian Museum and are recognized as unique expressions of the artistic talent of each of its creators. However, these quilts and these women are but one of the stories of “found†artists in the Black Belt.
Foodways
The preparation and sharing of food in Alabama’s Black Belt crosses and intermingles cultures. Foodway traditions are part of family memory, community memory and ultimately, in this region at least, a collective memory that part of its Southern identity. Few occasions arise in which the subject of food and the rituals associated with the food does not come up.
