The Mass Exodus of Oscarville

Story Time.. Since today is Thursday, lets do a little throwback on a crucial aspect of Black history. You may never have heard of Oscarville before now or you may have but DID YOU KNOW that Oscarville used to be a thriving town with a large Black community that was submerged under water by the US government to create Lake Lanier? Well, if this catches your attention, then stick around for a deep dive into history dating back to the early 1900s.

The Lost Town of Oscar Ville: A Dark Chapter in Black History

Oscarville, Georgia, is one of those names that history books rarely mention, yet its story is a crucial part of Black history—a reminder of the resilience of Black communities and the injustices they faced.

In the early 1900s, Oscar Ville was a thriving Black community in Forsyth County, Georgia. Black families owned land, farmed, ran businesses, and built schools and churches, creating a self-sufficient and prosperous settlement. But their success, as was the case in many Black communities of that era, was met with hostility. Despite the challenges of the Jim Crow South, the people of Oscarville thrived.

Jim Crow laws were laws in the Southern United States that enforced racial segregation between white and Black people. The laws were in place from the late 19th century until the 1960s. https://study.com/learn/lesson/video/what-are-jim-crow-laws-examples-history.html#:~:text=The%20End%20of%20the%20Jim,end%20of%20Jim%20Crow%20laws.

protests against Jim Crow Laws

The 1912 Racial Cleansing of Forsyth County

In September 1912, a white woman named Mae Crow was found assaulted near Oscarville. Suspicion immediately fell on three Black teenagers—Ernest Knox, Oscar Daniel, and Rob Edwards. Without proper evidence or a fair trial, a violent white mob took justice into their own hands.

Rob Edwards was lynched—his body was mutilated and left hanging as a warning. The two teenagers, Ernest and Oscar, were swiftly convicted and sentenced to death by hanging after a rushed trial.

This tragic event triggered a wave of racial violence leading to the mass exodus of Black residents from Oscarville. White mobs terrorized Black residents, burning homes, churches, and schools. Many Black families fled for their lives, leaving behind land and property that was later seized by white residents. By the end of 1912, nearly all Black residents of Forsyth County, including Oscarville, had been forcibly displaced. Those who stayed behind faced brutal intimidation, arson and violence until Oscarville was completely wiped off the map.

Once the black community was gone, their lands and possessions were stolen or sold at unfair prices to white residents and businesses.

The Disappearance of Oscarville

Over time, Oscarville faded from memory, swallowed up by history. In the 1950s, the U.S. government constructed Lake Lanier, a massive reservoir, flooding the land where Oscarville once stood. Many believe that remnants of the lost town still lie beneath the lake, serving as a submerged reminder of what once was. Today, the remains of Oscarville still exists beneath the water, everything submerged. Some people believe the spirits of those wronged still haunt the lake, seeking justice.

Lake Lanier has since become one of the deadliest lakes in America, with hundreds of drownings and unexplained accidents. Some people believe the land's violent past plays a role in the lake's dark history.

A Story That Deserves to Be Told

Oscarville’s tragic past mirrors similar events in other Black communities, such as the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and Rosewood in Florida. These stories reveal a pattern of racial violence, displacement, and economic devastation imposed upon Black communities. Do you want to know more about the hidden history of Oscarville and the mysteries of Lake Lanier? Watch OSCARVILLE on IMDb or SURVIVING LAKE LANIER on Amazon Prime. History cannot be erased.

Today, conversations around Oscarville and Forsyth County continue, as efforts are made to acknowledge and remember this dark chapter of history. Understanding the past is crucial to shaping a just and inclusive future.

Had you ever heard of Oscarville before? What are your thoughts on how history remembers such events?