The Long History of Race Relations in Florida
The Long History of Race Relations in Florida
The death of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked global outrage and protests. We purchased books and movies on Black history and culture in record numbers, hoping to provide insight into current events. And we became eager for conversations to deepen our understanding and help discover a path forward. Florida Humanities recently created an African-American History Archive of the stories we collected over the years on Black history, culture, and life here in Florida.
To continue the conversation, Florida Humanities convened The Long History of Race Relations in Florida in the fall of 2020.
Our first four-part panel series covered Florida’s Black history from European settlement, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights Movements of the mid-20th century and the present. Viewers heard from renowned scholars who delivered a quick series of presentations. Audience members asked questions and engage the scholars in a conversation.
Our second three-part series, Faith and Fortitude: Stories of Black Women in Florida continued the conversation focusing on the stories of Black women in Florida, an area of history full of incredible stories and inspiration.
The goal of both series is to develop a deeper understanding of the history that influences Florida’s politics, culture, and economy.
The Long History of Race Relations in Florida Video Collection
Did you miss one of our programs from The Long History of Race Relations in Florida? Check out the list of archived programs below.
Refusing to be Silenced: The Political History and Future of Black Women in Florida
The passage of the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. Despite the constitutional security granted by the amendment, Black women--and Black men--were not able to exercise voting privileges. This did not prevent Black women from engaging in political organizing and registering others to vote. When Black women were finally able to vote with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Black women began to enter national politics in force.
In part three of this series, our panelists will help us explore the political history of Black women; their goals and activism; and discuss the future role of Black women in Florida's politics.
Participating Panelists:- Dr. Sharon Austin is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida.
- Ms. Francesca Menes is the Founder and Chief Community Engager of CommUnity Strategies, LLC.
- Dr. Paul Ortiz is a Professor of History the Director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida.
- Dr. Tameka Hobbs (Moderator) is the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of History at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.
Faith and Folklore: Sites and Black Women’s Stories in the 20th Century
Central Florida has become an area of rapid growth. From Zora Neale Hurston to Mary McLeod Bethune, Black women made significant contributions from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico. In part two of this series, our scholars will discuss the sites and stories unique to Black women in Central Florida.
Participating Panelists:- Dr. Julian Chambliss is a professor in the Department of History, the Department of English, and serves as Val Berryman Curator of History at Michigan State University.
- Dr. Ashley Robertson Preston is a Lecturer in the African American Studies Program at the University of Florida.
- Dr. Ameenah Shakir is an Instructor at the College of Education, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
- Dr. Tameka Hobbs (Moderator) is the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of History at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.
Genesis: Sites and Black Women’s Stories in Old (North) Florida
The history of Black women sits at an intersection of race and gender which is often ignored. While studies of Black history can compensate for part of this deficit, Black women's stories can still be pushed from mainstream conversations. In part one of this series, our scholars will discuss the physical locations and stories unique to Black women in Old (north) Florida.
Participating Panelists:- Ms. Althemese Barnes is the Founder and Director (Retired) of the Riley Center and Museum in Tallahassee and the Founder of the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network.
- The Honorable Teniadé Broughton is a member of the Pensacola City Council and the Founder of Black Pensacola.
- Ms. Adonnica Toler is the Museum Administrator at the Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville.
- Dr. Tameka Hobbs (Moderator) is the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of History at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.
“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.
“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.
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.
“I Am a Man”: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Florida
Florida experienced the highest number of lynchings per capita out of any state in the country. This violence is often less understood in context with the global perception of Florida as a state with pristine beaches and perfect weather. “I Am A Man” explores the Sunshine State as a key battleground for the Civil Rights Movement. From the murder of Harry and Harriet Moore, to the Groveland Four, to the activism and protests in St. Augustine, Tallahassee, and Miami, African Americans in Florida fought—and occasionally died—to achieve justice and equality.
Participating Panelists- Dr. Paul Ortiz is a Professor of History the Director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida.
- Dr. Irvin Winsboro is a Professor of History at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.
- 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. 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.
Reconstruction and the Jim Crow Era
Following the end of the Civil War, Florida joined the other former confederate states in rebuilding the nation. Similar to other states, the era of Reconstruction saw the promise of African American advancement in education, politics, and business. Despite these advancements, Jim Crow segregation also rose, eventually subverting the progress of African Americans and leading to increased violence throughout Florida.
This presentation will explore the progress and peril African Americans experienced during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras. Reconstruction and the Jim Crow Era 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.
Participating Panelists
- Dr. Tameka Hobbs is the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of History at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.
- Dr. Will Guzman is a Professor of history at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas.
- 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.
The Spanish Colonial and Slavery Eras in Florida
The Spanish colony of Florida was established in 1513 with the arrival of Juan Ponce de Leon. Subsequent interactions and conflicts between European settlers, indigenous groups, and peoples of African descent established the foundation of Florida’s history and culture. Florida’s status as a “backwater” colony made it an attractive destination for enslaved Africans, enabling them to establish settlements like Fort Mose and other colonies to celebrate freedom.
This conversation explores the complex nature of these interactions and the influence of Spanish, African, and indigenous culture on Florida. This conversation will focus on the Spanish colonial period, from 1513 to 1763; and the slavery era from 1783 until Florida joined the United States as a territory in 1821.
Participating Panelists
- Dr. Anthony Dixon is the founder and president of Archival and Historical Research Associates, the Field Director of the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network, and an Assistant Professor and Archivist at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach.
- Dr. Larry Rivers is the former President of Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida A&M University, and a Distinguished 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.