The Archaeology of Race and Class at Timbuctoo: A Black Community in New Jersey.

"The Archaeology of Race and Class at Timbuctoo: A Black Community in New Jersey" by Christopher Baron, reviewed by James A. Delle, explores the history of a community of color at Timbuctoo, shedding light on the effects of an earlier great migration of self-emancipated individuals. Through collaborative research with descendants, Barton combines family histories, oral traditions, and archaeological evidence to paint a comprehensive picture of life in Timbuctoo. Despite facing challenges such as racist attacks and marginalization, the residents of Timbuctoo thrived and creatively navigated their circumstances, as evidenced by archaeological findings like the use of "waster" bricks and the development of economic strategies like home canning. This study highlights the importance of preserving and sharing the stories of African American settlements like Timbuctoo to fully understand our past. [Extracted from the article]