African American descendants, community outreach, and the Ransom and Sarah Williams Farmstead Project

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe participated in the research of a post-emancipation African American site in Texas that involved a community outreach programme with local descendants. We worked with the descendant community in producing knowledge and defining project outcomes, both of which benefitted the research and raised the public visibility of black Texas history and archaeology. Based on our experiences, we discuss how cultural resource management (CRM) firms can play an important role in diversifying the profession, and in engendering a long-term commitment to public archaeology among their employees. There were challenges we encountered working within the context of CRM, including funding allocations and enlisting local descendants in the site excavation, yet we hope that this case study helps to promote community archaeology in future CRM projects.