Episode 3: The Myth

In this episode of 1912, hosts Rose Scott and Sophia Dodd investigate the myths and realities surrounding Lake Lanier and its connection to the 1912 expulsion of Black residents from Forsyth County. Over time, these myths have transformed a brutal history into ghost stories, but the trauma endured by Black families during and after 1912 remains undisputed.

The podcast addresses the persistent legend that Lake Lanier was created to cover up racial crimes and investigates whether Oscarville was a prosperous Black town destroyed to make way for the lake.

As the episode progresses, Scott and Dodd shift their focus to the economic disparities that emerged after Lake Lanier’s creation. White residents of Forsyth County benefited greatly from the lake’s development and the resulting economic boom, while the displaced Black families, driven away long before, were never compensated—nor did they receive an apology. The hosts question whether the sensationalized myths about Oscarville obscure the real horrors of the Black displacement from Forsyth County and, more importantly, whether they dilute attention to the lasting impacts of these atrocities.

1912 is a limited series from Atlanta History Center and WABE.

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