As Mainstream Media and Social Media Stoke Division, Woke-Right Takes the Bait, While Most Americans Shrug at "Return to Land" and Georgia’s Black Families Building Their Own Communities

July 29, 2025

Atlanta, Georgia - In a polarized media landscape, the mainstream press and social media influencers are being accused of fanning the flames of racial division over two little-noticed community projects: a so-called "whites-only" settlement in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains called "Return to the Land" (RTTL) and a parallel effort by 19 Black families in Georgia to establish their own community. Despite the media’s sensationalized coverage, sources close to both projects suggest that the public’s response is largely apathy—except among the "woke-right," a vocal online faction that’s eating up the race-baiting narrative.

The "Return to the Land" initiative, described on social media as a "fortress for the white race," has garnered attention for its exclusionary rhetoric. Led by Eric Orwoll, the group promotes a private community of about 40 residents, with hundreds more as paying members, built on 160 acres in the Ozarks. Their mission, as stated on their website, is to "cultivate wholesomeness, beauty, health, and hope" through shared European ancestry, explicitly barring non-European religions and non-traditional lifestyles. The group’s Telegram channel has drawn scrutiny for Nazi references, though Orwoll claims his project is a legal private club exempt from equality laws—a claim legal experts question.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, 19 Black families have quietly purchased land to create a self-sustaining community, often compared to historical Black townships like Eatonville, Florida. Described as a safe haven for Black families seeking cultural unity and economic independence, the project has flown under the radar compared to RTTL. Organizers emphasize self-reliance and community empowerment, steering clear of the inflammatory rhetoric seen in Arkansas. Yet, mainstream media outlets have framed both efforts as mirror images of racial separatism, lumping them together in a narrative critics call lazy and divisive.

Mainstream media, from cable news to online publications, has been quick to amplify these stories, often with clickbait headlines accusing both groups of "segregationist" motives. Social media influencers, particularly on platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok, have piled on, with some far-right accounts using coded language like “anglo” or “pilled” to cheer RTTL, while others decry both projects as threats to racial harmony. A 2022 PBS report noted how white nationalist groups use subtle tactics to evade platform moderation, a strategy evident in the online buzz around RTTL.

The loudest voices, however, seem to come from the "woke-right"—a term for conservatives who adopt progressive-style outrage to push anti-establishment narratives. On X, posts accusing the media of ignoring RTTL’s "white supremacy" or exaggerating Georgia’s Black community as "reverse racism" have gained traction, racking up thousands of likes and retweets. Critics argue this outrage is performative, with influencers and commentators capitalizing on racial tension to boost engagement. “It’s all about clicks and clout,” said one X user, a sentiment echoed across platforms where hashtags like #RaceBaiting and #WokeRight trend sporadically.

Despite the online firestorm, local sentiment near both projects tells a different story. In Arkansas, residents near the Ozark settlement describe RTTL as a “non-issue,” with one Pocahontas local saying, “They keep to themselves. Nobody’s bothered.” Similarly, in Georgia, the Black families’ project has drawn little attention beyond supportive local Black networks. A community organizer involved in the Georgia effort, speaking anonymously, said, “We’re not separatists; we’re building for our kids’ future. The media’s making it something it’s not.”

Analysts suggest the media’s focus on these stories reflects a broader pattern of race-baiting to drive viewership. A 2021 study on racism and social media noted how platforms amplify divisive narratives through algorithms that reward controversy, with influencers—both left and right—profiting from the outrage cycle. Meanwhile, the public’s indifference contrasts sharply with the online echo chamber. Polls, like one from Pew Research in 2020, show most Americans, regardless of race, prioritize economic and health concerns over cultural flashpoints like these.

As the "woke-right" and media outlets continue to spin these projects into a battleground for racial grievances, the communities themselves—both in the Ozarks and Georgia—seem content to focus on their own goals. For now, the real story might be how little the average person cares about the manufactured drama, even as it dominates headlines and feeds.