Asheville
Black Cultural
Heritage Trail
Learn how Black people from all backgrounds built resilient communities and fostered social change in Asheville.
Explore the Rich Heritage of Black Communities in Asheville
The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail leads visitors through three areas of Asheville: Downtown, Southside, and the River Area. The entire trail takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to walk and read.
Reflecting on Community Resolve
Did you know that Black people helped create this region's first non-Indigenous households? Did you know that Black people helped build Asheville and connected Asheville globally? Black entrepreneurs created thriving business districts. Black families cultivated close-knit neighborhoods. Black people from all backgrounds built resilient communities and fostered social change.
Immerse yourself in the history and heroism of Black Ashevillians by walking the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail. Deepen your understanding with articles, videos, and more resources available here on the trail's website.
Sankofa Bird
As you walk the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail, you’ll notice trail markers with Sankofa birds on the sidewalk guiding you to your next destination.
Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah) is a Twi word from the Akan Tribe of Ghana that loosely translates to “Go back and get it.” The literal translation comes from the Akan proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri," which means “it is not taboo to go back for what you forgot (or left behind).”
The Sankofa bird encourages this thought: Take lessons from the past to build a brighter future. It also begs the question: Do we have the courage to do so? Keep that question in mind today as you walk this trail that recognizes injustice and suffering, and also commemorates the power and accomplishments of Asheville’s Black community.
