Today on the podcast I’m welcoming Durwood Snead. Durwood is a co-founder of the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship, a retired International Missions Pastor from North Point Ministries and a 35-year resident of Forsyth County, GA. In this episode, I’m sitting down with Durwood as he shares the story of the racial cleansing events of 1912 in Forsyth county, GA. Hear how he stumbled upon the deep-rooted history of racism in the very county in which he lives, and how he and other Forsyth county residents are changing the narrative from being known as “the most racist county in America” to becoming one known for love!
LISTEN TO EPISODE #31 NOW:
Listen + Follow on your favorite platform:
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | Pandora | iHeartRadio
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Hear how Durwood Snead, a resident of Forsyth county, discovered the horrific racial cleansing events of 1912 in the very community in which he lives.
- Hear stories of the families who were expelled, and how present-day descendants are still affected by the county’s racist past.
- Walk away better understanding racism and it’s effects on a macro-level through this micro-level story.
- Learn about the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship and other efforts in the community to change the narrative of Forsyth County moving forward.
- Understand how the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship is acknowledging the racist past of Forsyth County with acts of love. Understand why this is not “reparations”, but instead, acts of love to acknowledge the hurt.
- Learn how the scholarships are moving the conversation forward by creating space for discussion and keeping their families’ stories alive.
- Ultimately learn how Forsyth County, the county Oprah once called “the most racist county in America”, is becoming one known for love!
I met Durwood a few months ago through a mutual friend from HOPE International. They invited me on a private tour with Durwood visiting places of the key events we’ll be discussing in this interview around Forsyth County, Georgia. I, myself, am 7-year resident of Forsyth County and I didn’t know about these events before meeting Durwood…It was such an eye-opening and humbling experience, and the more I got to understand the story, the more I realized we had to share it with you on the podcast! As you’ll come to see, Forsyth County has a dark, racist past and county residents are now working to make it a place of redemptive love!
Links mentioned:
- Go to Forsythscholarship.org to check out more about the history of Forsyth County, learn more about the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship, and donate too!
- Check out the Atlanta History Center to experience the current exhibit of the Forsyth County expulsion events, and listen-in to their 5-part podcast series digging deeper into the story!
- Listen to Durwood share more about this story on the Be the Bridge Podcast with Latasha Morrison!
- Watch this video produced by Stay Tuned, an NBC News brand, to see clips of real events that took place in 1912.
- Grab a copy of Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips! (Rated 100 notable books by the New York Times Book Review, 2016)
Durwood's Bio:
Durwood is a co-founder of the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship, a retired International Missions Pastor from North Point Ministries and a 35-year resident of Forsyth County, GA. Durwood has been married to Judi for 51 years and has 5 children and 16 grandchildren. You can frequently find him on the pickleball court or fishing on the lake.
Watch on YouTube!
Send us your Heartmail!
Have a relatable experience to share, encouraging words for our guest, or just want to share a comment?
If there’s a large response to today's episode, we might just bring our guest back on the show to dive into your comments, or even have them join us as a guest in The Lovelight Stories FB Community!
1.) Leave a quick voice message
Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe for our guest and you'll have a chance to have your note featured on an upcoming episode! Leave your voice message here!
2.) Submit your written questions
Submit your written questions or encouraging comments for today's guest here instead. Submit questions and comments here!
Submit your guest idea
Have someone you know who'd be a great guest on the show? Have a topic idea? Submit your ideas here!
Be the first to comment