Archived Site: Black Jonestown

On November 18, 1978, over 900 members of the predominantly African American Peoples Temple church died in the Jonestown massacre in Guyana, South America.  Prior to 9/11, the Jonestown massacre was the largest loss of civilian life in American history. The majority of those who died in Jonestown were African American women and children.

Blackjonestown.org is the first website devoted to lifting up the voices, experiences and social history of African American Peoples Temple and Jonestown members, victims and survivors. We actively encourage contributions from the African American survivor community and beyond.

It is our intent to open up dialogue about the experiences of Black women and Black people in the Jonestown diaspora, recognizing that both Jonestown and Peoples Temple thrived in the midst of a turbulent sociopolitical climate that left most Black women behind. In order to ensure that the tragedy of Jonestown isn’t repeated, it’s important to examine, and learn from, the lessons of the past.

“I was so honored to hear survivors and learn about the hierarchy of the Jonestown system. I was unaware of the escapees & survivors, I thought all perished.”

—>Museum of the African Diaspora audience member, July 2017

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