White Hall in Lowndes County emerges as a testament to resilience. Born out of the ambitions of the New Deal, this community was established in 1935 under the auspices of the Resettlement Administration. It was conceived as a sanctuary for the county’s African American majority, deliberately separated from the neighboring enclaves of Lowndesboro and Benton. Yet, the land upon which White Hall stands holds a richer, more storied past.
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Key Events
On the second day of the Selma to Montgomery march, the marchers entered Lowndes County on their way to the farm of Ms. Rosie Steele, a 78 year old small business owner who owned around 200 acres of land in White Hall. Widowed as a young mother, Ms. Steele would go on to own land in more than one county and own her on store. Ms. Steele was known throughout the community as a kind and compassionate person, who would never turn a neighbor in need away. When Ms. Steele was asked if marchers could stay on her land, she did not hesitate, understanding the danger she remarked, “I have lived my three score and ten.”
Deprived of shelter and stability after being evicted for registering to vote, African American families found refuge in Tent City in the mid-1960s. They transformed it into a symbol of resistance and resilience. Despite the rudimentary living conditions, the spirit of community thrived. Men, women, and children persevered from within these modest quarters. Support from civil rights organizations, particularly the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), provided essential aid and bolstered the morale of those who had lost nearly everything in their pursuit of equality. Tent City became more than just a shelter; it was a defiant statement against systemic oppression. Tent City’s legacy endures, ensuring that the voices of those who once called it home are not forgotten.
Countless meetings, training sessions, and workshops took place here sponsored by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). They equipped local residents with the knowledge and tools necessary to challenge the status quo. The complex was more than just a physical space; it was a vibrant hub of intellectual and strategic activity, where the principles of nonviolent resistance were honed and applied. Today, the legacy of the SNCC Freedom House remains a powerful symbol of the movement’s relentless pursuit of self-determination and civil rights. The Jackson Freedom Complex, which includes the SNCC Freedom House, or “Freedom Shack,” is located at 640 White Hall Road.
