Episode 169 - Love Triumphs: James and Olivia Tate's Extraordinary Love Story

The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

Jennie and Dianne delve into the remarkable tale of James and Olivia Tate, enslaved in Georgia prior to the American civil war but united by love. This February, they kick off a month-long celebration of love and honor Black History with the Tate's inspiring story at Atlanta's historic Oakland Cemetery. True love knows no bounds, not even the challenges of the Civil War. Discover how James and Olivia overcame separation, legal barriers, and emerged as a symbol of enduring love and how their Ordinary Extraordinary story helped other freed black Americans to begin life anew in Atlanta.
Click here to see volunteers at Historic Oakland Cemetery reenact James and Olivia’s story during the 2021 Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween tour. https://youtu.be/rhC0d6VN9dA?si=Rza44RqHTiMWKQDh
Resources used to research this episode include:
Various articles through www.newspapers.com as well as historical documents through www.ancestry.com
"About CAU ." https://www.cau.edu. www.cau.edu/about/index.html. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
, Historic Oakland Foundation . "Love Stories of Oakland: James and Olivia Tate ." https://oaklandcemetery.com. 19 Jan. 2022. oaklandcemetery.com/love-stories-of-oakland-james-and-olivia-tate/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
Ferree, L. "James Tate." https://www.findagrave.com. 5 Feb. 2016. www.findagrave.com/memorial/157833473/james-tate. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
Owens, Brian. "Belief in the Future." http://www.brianowensart.com. www.brianowensart.com/tate.html. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
Mohamed , Besheer, et al. "A brief overview of Black religious history in the U.S. ." https://www.pewresearch.org. 16 Feb. 2021. www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/02/16/a-brief-overview-of-black-religious-history-in-the-u-s/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
"Berry family collection ." https://www.nypl.org. www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/bib/b11822942?originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fcatalog.nypl.org%2Frecord%3Db11822942. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
, Atlanta History Center. "A City Enslaved." https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com. www.atlantahistorycenter.com/exhibitions/the-color-line-the-problem-of-the-centuries/a-city-enslaved/#:~:text=In%20Atlanta%2C%20African%20American%20residents,Black%20population%20of%20nearly%202%2C500.&text=Credit%20Close.,-02%2F03&text=Storrs%20School%2C%20the%20first%20schoolhouse,formerly%20enslaved%20people%20in%20Georgia. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
, Atlanta History Center. "After Reconstruction ." https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com. www.atlantahistorycenter.com/exhibitions/the-color-line-the-problem-of-the-centuries/after-reconstruction/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
Contributer , Guest. "160th Anniversary of the Historic Friendship Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia ." https://atlinq.com. 14 Apr. 2022. atlinq.com/160th-anniversary-of-the-historic-friendship-baptist-church-of-atlanta-georgia/#. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.