Tybee Black History Trail markers dedicated. 'We’re learning about the people who lived here'

Physical markers on the Tybee Black History trail were dedicated Tuesday morning, nearly a year after the ribbon cutting was held to launch the virtual trail.

Residents, local officials and activists gathered under the hot Tybee Island morning sun at the recently placed markers for the dedication.

In 2020 the Tybee Island City Council passed a justice and equality resolution, focusing on broad concepts of racial equity.

Following that, Tybee MLK, a human rights organization, the Tybee Island Historical Society, Georgia Southern University worked to create the Black History Trail which launched virtually in 2023. The trail has 13 stops, with additional markers and information being added to Stop 4C, the Gilyard Cottage Hutment.

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More: A pathway to the past: Tybee Black History Trail dedicated

“It’s not just about events that happened here like wade-ins and Orange Crush,” said Pat Lieby, the chair of the Black History Trail for Tybee MLK. “It’s not just about some of the buildings that we still have, like the James Adams Oyester House or the Walter Brown Family home, but we’re learning about the people who lived here. The people who dreamed here, who worked here and had hope here.”

Much of the trail highlights Black people who lived on Tybee Island. In the new marker at the Gilyard Cottage, it highlights Sarah Young, the first known Black woman to reside as the housekeeper and head keeper of the Tybee Island Light House in the 1860s.

The ribbon cutting had a number of speakers, including Mayor Brian West, Lillian Baptiste-Grant leading the libation and Julia Pearce, founder of Tybee MLK. Pearce and Tybee Island Historical Society Executive Director Sarah Jones read statements from Georgia Southern University professor Amy Potter and alum Joyah Mitchell, who both helped create and launch the virtual trail.

“It’s an emotional day, because I feel like we worked really hard to bring things together,” Pearce said. “So that no one feels excluded. We’re an island for all people, and we all have interesting stories to tell.”

The tour is self-guided, and each stop can be accessed here.

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Black History Trail physical markers dedicated