From the Fiery Furnace to the Promise Land: Stories of a Tennessee Reconstruction Community

The Promise Land community, a small village west of Nashville, Tennessee was founded after the Civil War by people who had been enslaved at the Cumberland Iron Furnace. These early settlers, who included United States Colored Troops veterans, were able to purchase land and establish Black-owned businesses. This afforded the community a level of stability that defies conventional wisdom about the post-Reconstruction-era South.

In time the community encompassed approximately 1,000 acres with more than 50 homes, several stores, three churches, and an elementary school. But by the mid-twentieth century, the community had dwindled to just a handful of families. Now all that remains physically is a church and the old school building. But in the hearts of the descendants of those families, Promise Land remains a vital and thriving community of friends, family, and, albeit virtual, neighbors who continue to support each other.

This is the story of this town told through the memories of the people who lived there. Serina Gilbert grew up in the community and is now one of the revered storytellers and story-keepers of Promise Land. Along with historian Learotha Williams, she is sharing the history of a community that thrived and continues to thrive in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles.

A descendant of original Promise Land settlers, Serina K. Gilbert was born and raised in the community. Like many of her predecessors, she moved away after finishing high school in pursuit of a post-secondary education. Upon graduating from Tennessee State University, she moved to New York City to work for the City’s Social Services and Health Departments. From there, she moved on to Howard University in Washington, D.C. where she earned a master’s degree in social work. She enjoyed over 35 progressive and diversified years in the field of Social Work before retiring and returning to her home of origin. Since returning to Tennessee, she has led the efforts to preserve the history of the Promise Land Community.

Learotha Williams Jr. is a professor of African American, Civil War and Reconstruction, and Public History at Tennessee State University and coordinator of the North Nashville Heritage Project. He is the co-editor of I’ll Take You There: Exploring Nashville’s Social Justice Sites (also published by Vanderbilt University Press).

Frederick Murphy is the founder of History Before Us, LLC and an award-winning documentarian. He’s the president of the Tennessee African American Historical Group and serves on the board of the James K. Polk historic site in Pineville, North Carolina, and the Slave Dwelling Project in Charleston, South Carolina.