December 29th 2024.
Shortly after the tragic murder of George Floyd near her home in Minneapolis, Mihesha Gibbs-Lumpkins made the decision to move back to her hometown of Pembroke Township with her family. Her 13-year-old son was particularly affected by the events, as he had to walk past the corner store where Floyd lost his life every day on his way to school. This constant reminder of the tragedy became too overwhelming for the family, prompting their move back to Pembroke, a small, predominantly Black farming community located 60 miles south of Chicago. It was meant to be a peaceful escape from the chaos and turmoil of the outside world.
In just a few months, the family of four settled into a cozy home in Hopkins Park, a village within the township known for its rare black oak savanna and beautiful sand dunes. However, their hopes for a tranquil life were soon shattered when off-road enthusiasts began trespassing on the dunes, disrupting the once-peaceful environment with their loud vehicles, late-night campfires, and reckless behavior. The off-road activity has only increased in recent years, leaving the small township feeling under attack and defenseless.
Gibbs-Lumpkins and her neighbors are now living in a community that is slowly slipping away from them. The conservation groups that began buying property in the early 2000s to create nature preserves have unintentionally attracted off-roaders who see the dunes as a playground for their vehicles. This has caused tension and conflict between the two groups, with residents feeling like their way of life is not being respected.
As a result, many residents have taken matters into their own hands, using makeshift barricades made of metal frames, old cars, and fallen trees to protect their property. However, these efforts are often met with retaliation from the off-roaders, who use bulldozers and chainsaws to remove the barriers and continue their activities. The lack of a police force in the township only adds to the feeling of helplessness and vulnerability among the residents.
Pembroke Township was once known as a safe haven for Black families escaping the discrimination and violence of the Jim Crow South. Its unique landscape, with its rare black oak savannas and sand dunes, has been preserved for over 200 years thanks to the light touch of its Black farmers. However, the recent influx of off-roaders has threatened the delicate ecosystem and the peaceful way of life that the residents have worked hard to maintain.
The Nature Conservancy, one of the organizations responsible for purchasing land in the area, has now found itself in an unlikely partnership with the residents. They share a common goal of preserving the land and protecting it from further destruction by off-roaders. But for many residents, the damage has already been done. The once-tranquil community is now filled with the sound of assault rifles and the sight of bullet-riddled "No Trespassing" signs.
The struggles of the residents of Pembroke Township highlight the ongoing conflicts between conservation efforts and recreational activities. While the Nature Conservancy has stopped purchasing land through public auctions since 2015, the damage has already been done. The small, resource-poor township is left to deal with the aftermath and find ways to protect their homes and way of life.
Shortly after George Floyd was tragically murdered just blocks from her home in Minneapolis, Mihesha Gibbs-Lumpkins made the tough decision to leave and return to her hometown of Pembroke Township with her husband and two children. The tipping point was when her 13-year-old son expressed a need to get away from the chaos and violence that had become a daily reality for them. Walking to school, past the corner store where Floyd lost his life at the hands of a police officer, was overwhelming and terrifying for the entire family.
Pembroke Township, a predominantly Black farming community located 60 miles south of Chicago, was meant to be a peaceful haven for the family. They moved into a quaint rambler in the small village of Hopkins Park, surrounded by rare black oak savanna and unique sand dunes. Gibbs-Lumpkins remembered the town she grew up in as a place without fences, where her kids could play freely without boundaries. But upon their return, she realized that things had changed.
The once-tranquil community was slowly slipping away, as conservation groups began buying up land to create nature preserves and off-road enthusiasts from out of town began trespassing on the dunes. The noise and destruction caused by these off-roaders became a constant disruption to the peaceful nature sounds that Gibbs-Lumpkins remembered from her childhood. She and her neighbors felt helpless against the increasing activity, with the township lacking its own police force to enforce the law.
As Sheriff Mike Downey explained, his force's resources were limited and they were only able to issue citations for criminal trespassing. Many residents, like Gibbs-Lumpkins, resorted to barricading their property with anything they could find, but the off-roaders would simply come back with bulldozers and chainsaws. The "No Trespassing" signs posted all over town were disregarded, leaving behind bullet holes as a reminder of the disrespect shown to the residents and their community.
In a surprising turn of events, the environmentalists who were once seen as antagonists by the residents have now become their allies in the fight against the off-roaders. The Nature Conservancy, who had been purchasing land in the area to protect it, recognized the importance of working together with the community to find a solution.
Pembroke Township has a rich history, with Black farmers learning to live off the land and creating a refuge for other Black people escaping the discrimination of the Jim Crow South. The area is home to many endangered species and the largest concentration of black oak savannas, which have become increasingly rare due to human development. The sand dunes that the off-roaders now use as their playground were formed during the last ice age and hold great significance to the community.
Despite the struggles faced by the residents, there is still a strong sense of pride and community spirit. At a community meeting, Arnettia Marshall spoke about the town's past as a "Black mecca" and the need for respect in order for the community to thrive once again. The Nature Conservancy has stopped purchasing land through public auctions and is now working with the residents to protect the area, recognizing the importance of preserving this unique and special place. As a real estate listing once advertised, "If you know, you know!" and for the residents of Pembroke Township, their town is a hidden gem that they are determined to protect.
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