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.

Participating Panelists

  • Dr. Tameka Hobbs is an Assistant Professor of History, the Interim Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, and the University Historian for 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.

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.