The Great Migration Greenway

Only 3 percent of sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places focus on the experiences of Black Americans. This collective oversight deprives us of a full understanding of the story of America, which is why TPL has worked with communities to preserve sites that recognize the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans. We’re proud to help preserve and promote a more accurate, equitable public memory of U.S. history.

In Chicago, TPL is partnering with Blacks in Green (BIG) on the open space components of its Sustainable Square Mile™ model, a whole-system solution to Black community development. TPL invested $100,000 from its Equitable Communities Fund in BIG’s plan to create a Great Migration Greenway that transforms vacant lots into gardens that not only honor luminaries of the Great Migration, but also uses cutting-edge green infrastructure technology to increase the West Woodlawn neighborhood’s climate resiliency.

The anchor sites for the greenway are Emmet Till’s childhood home and the nearby Mamie Till-Mobley Forgiveness Garden. These spaces recognize and honor a painful and grave moment in American history—the brutal lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till, which galvanized the civil rights movement.

But these spaces also provide respite and healing. “We want people to understand Emmett beyond just his brutalization,” says Naomi Davis, Founder and CEO of BIG. “The Great Migration is one of the most underreported stories of our time. Seven million people voted with their feet and left the south in search of a new life in the north.” Davis hopes the stories of those remarkable, triumphant people will inspire current and future generations. “We want to celebrate the genius, the creativity, work ethic, and love of our people.”