Historic Black communities across the US are vanishing while descendants fight to preserve them

By Brynn Anderson, Laura Bargfeld, Rebecca Blackwell, Sharon Johnson and Desiree Seals

Photographer Brynn Anderson, video journalist Laura Bargfeld, photographer Rebecca Blackwell, video journalist Sharon Johnson and reporter Desiree Seals built a multiformat report to show how Black descendants of formerly enslaved people across the U.S. are losing their historic communities at alarming rates, and what challenges they face to save what’s left of a quickly fading history.

Johnson spent several months talking with dozens of descendants of formerly enslaved people across several states. She collected stories and information from various sociologists, historians and other experts.

She collaborated with Blackwell, Bargfeld and Anderson to create stunning visuals from multiple locations. Johnson anchored the text story, with a strong edit by Desiree Seals on the U.S. Desk.