Sidney's Salon w/ New South Associates, "The Chitlin’ Circuit"

The Chitlin’ Circuit and Black Entertainment in Jim Crow Georgia

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Historic Preservation Division (HPD) has officially published On the Circuit: The Chitlin’ Circuit and Segregated Black Entertainment in Jim Crow Georgia, a historic context statement.

On the Circuit was created to serve as a reference tool in the development of a future Chitlin’ Circuit Heritage Trail in Georgia. This proposed trail will educate the public about entertainment in the African American community during the South’s segregated Jim Crow era.

Phase One of this project required travel to research and document the Chitlin’ Circuit, and create case studies for potential trail site destinations, resulting in the publication of On the Circuit.

The year-long project was funded by a grant from the Fox Theatre through the Fox Gives program to research, document, and provide guidance on the historic trail.

Mary W. Joseph, HPD Community Outreach Coordinator, worked in consultation with New South Associates to create the report. Within the research, the authors addressed essential information needed to interpret Chitlin’ Circuit sites scattered across the state which included:

• Providing a basic definition of the Chitlin’ Circuit,
• Discussing the circuit’s origins at the national and regional levels, and
• Identifying people and places significant to the circuit’s history and preservation.

A select number of circuit-associated sites across Georgia were chosen as case studies, serving as potential locations on the future heritage trail and providing a blueprint for future additions to the trail as it develops.

“On the Circuit is a groundbreaking resource to recognize the rich musical heritage and resilience in Georgia,” said Jennifer Flood, DCA’s Historic Preservation Division Director. “We look forward to the report’s impact in supporting a heritage trail to encourage visitors to these important sites.”

Like other historic context reports, On the Circuit is available publicly for a wide variety of history and preservation projects. The resources available in these reports provide individuals and professionals with tools to identify and contextualize the significance of their properties in broader thematic areas.

On the Circuit and other historic context statements are available on the DCA website at dca.georgia.gov, where you can also learn more about the Historic Preservation Division and other DCA programs.

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