Vandalia’s Arnwine Drive Bears the Legacy of Slavery and a Family’s Fight for Justice

Stearlin Arnwine, Image courtesy of Candice Hammons (Photo Credit: Federal Writer’s Project, United States Work Projects Administration (USWPA) Arnwine Drive in Vandalia may seem like just another quiet suburban street beside Paradise Lake, but it carries a name woven with layers of history and struggle. Honoring Zebedee “Zeb” Arnwine, a prominent African American business owner who lived in the community from 1943 to 1957, the street marks more than a local legacy. It connects to a past rooted in the harsh realities of slavery in Texas, where Zeb’s ancestors endured unspeakable oppression. Now, decades later, his descendants are fighting for justice, determined to heal the wounds of that haunting history. Candice Hammons, a Detroit native and descendant of Texas slave owner Albertus Arnwine and the enslaved Gracy Arnwine, is on a quest for justice for her family. As a cousin of Zebedee “Zeb” Arnwine, she recently began exploring her lineage. She uncovered a long-standing injustice: land that was willed to the Arnwine family by Albertus Arnwine was never transferred to them. Hammons is determined to correct this historical wrong by reclaiming the land and honoring the legacy of her ancestors, ensuring their story is recognized and remembered. After her niece...