“Black Lives Matter”:  The Current Struggle for Civil Rights and Racial Justice in Florida

The term “Black Lives Matter” started as a hashtag in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s 2012 shooting in Sanford, Florida. Since then, it has become a national movement that has garnered praise and controversy. This panel will explore the historical precedent for “Black Lives Matter” and the work of modern civil rights movements in Florida and beyond.

Participating Panelists

• Dr. Abel Bartley is a Professor of History at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, and director of the university’s Pan-African Studies program.
• Dr. Tiffany Packer is an Assistant Professor of History at Florida A&M University.
• Dr. Darius Young is an Associate Professor of History at Florida A&M University.
• Dr. David Jackson (Moderator) is the Associate Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate College at Florida A&M University. He is also a Professor of History at FAMU and a member of the Board of Directors for Florida Humanities.

“Black Lives Matter”: The Current Struggle for Civil Rights and Racial Justice in Florida is part of a conversation series, The Long History of Race Relations in Florida, convened by Florida Humanities in an effort to better understand the historical forces that influence Florida’s politics, culture, and economy.