Tamina is one of the few remaining emancipation communities in the United States. It's thought to be the oldest freedmen’s town in Texas. Freed slaves, a handful of whom had funds to buy their own land, established this community in 1871. They built their own churches, schools and businesses, tilled their land, and worked in the flourishing lumber industry. Their stories reveal a deep-rooted kinship with values centered on family and community. Regardless of the challenges these people have faced, their faith, gratitude, and humor always thread their tales.

The Ground on Which I Stand, a collection of portraits and landscapes with oral histories presented by 14 people and their families, is published by Texas A&M Press. A second edition was released in the fall of 2019, including an oral history curriculum with projects for students of all ages, from primary through college levels.

Visit TaminaTexas.com for more information about this historic community, snippets of stories shared, and free teacher resources

For purchasing or exhibit information, please contact Marti Corn.