CHECK IN WITH EDEN.
>>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
I'M THRILLED RANCE IS GOING TO
SHOW US THE HISTORY THAT
STRETCHES BACK TO THE COLONIAL
DAYS.
LET'S WATCH TOGETHER.
>> YOU SEE THE HIGH LOYINGED
AREAS HERE -HIGHLIGHTED AREAS
HERE
FROM A FORMER SLAVE FAMILY AT
ONE TIME.
>> IT'S -- A SPORTS STATE.
AND ALSO IN FLORIDA.
THAT COMMUNITY WAS BORN OUT OF
SLAVERY.
>> REPORTER: .
>> AND CULTURE HERE
IS -- COMPRISED OF THE
(INAUDIBLE) WHO HELPED PASS DOWN
NOT ONLY LAND BUT THE CULTURE OF
FOOD.
THE CULTURE OF HEALING.
AND SEVERAL COMMUNITIES HERE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY ALL
OF THEM.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR -- EASIEST TO
IDENTIFY.
ONE OF THE BEST WE HAVE HAD SO
FAR.
IDENTIFICATION OF THESE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF CITIES WERE BURNOUTS.
AND WHEREVER THE INDUSTRY WENT
IS WHERE MOST PEOPLE CAME.
YOU'LL FIND IN JACKSONVILLE THAT
THERE IS A LARGER NUMBER OF IN
THE PROGRESSIVE AREAS AND THE
INFLUX OF INDIVIDUALS IN THIS
AREA WAS PROBABLY A STOPPING
POINT FOR GOING SOUTH.
WHICH IS THE FIRST UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD WENT SOUTH.
FLORIDA WAS A FREE STATE AT ONE
STATE BEFORE -- ONE STATE BEFORE
A SLAVE STATE.
SO IT WAS ALWAYS HERE.
AND JACKSONVILLE WAS NOT
SKIPPED.
>> I THINK OURANICI
SESTERS -- ANCESTORS HAD THE
LOSS OF BEGINNING.
NOT KNOW WHERE WE CAME.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SET OUT
TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT THE
ANCESTORS TO OUR CHILDREN SO
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE
POSITIVES.
AND THAT SPIRITUAL NATURE THAT
OUR ANCESTORS LEFT BEHIND TO
KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW
WHO THEY ARE.
WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
AND HOW THIS ALL CAME TO BE.
AND IT'S THE MAKING OF THE NEW
WORLD IN THE UNITED STATES.
BRING US TO WHERE WE ARE.
AND THAT POSITIVE IMAGE TO MAKE
OUR CHILDREN KNOW WE WERE SET
APART IN THE BUILDING OF
AMERICA.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS
WHERE WE'RE FROM AND IS -- AND
THIS IS WHO WE ARE AND OUR
CHILDREN AND MIXED GENERATIONS
ARE COMING.
WE NEED TO KNOW THIS.
>> THE COMMUNITY STILL EXISTS.
THERE IS A LOT OF FAMILIES IN
THIS AREA.
TODAY IT'S VERY EASY FOR THEM TO
COME TOGETHER.
AND TO LOOK BACK AT THE
HUSTRY -- HISTORY AND THE FAMIL
HISTORY.
.
>> IT'S JUST BEEN (INAUDIBLE).
I FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY IS A
PART OF ME
>> REPORTER: THERE IS STILL 25
FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT ARE DIRECT
DESENDANTS.
ALL OF THOSE DESCENDANTS ARE
PART OF THE GREAT GREAT
GRANDFATHER AND THE PLANTATIONS
AND THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY.
THEY HOPE TO OPEN A MUSEUM ONE
DAY AND THEY HAVE A CAMP COMING
UP.
IT'S A RIDING TOUR.