February is Black Heritage Month

Miami Springs commemorates Black Heritage Month! Black history in Florida is especially rich, dating back to the early 16th century. Below are links from the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Florida State Archives and other locations that highlight African-Americans and related events that have shaped the Florida we live in today.

Famous People and Places

Emory Conrad Malick  Did you know that Glenn Curtiss trained the first licensed African-American pilot?  http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/the-unrecognized-first-79496373/?page=1

Mary McLeod Bethune  Learn about the life and work of Mary McLeod Bethune, who founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial School for Negro Girls, now Bethune-Cookman College, in Daytona Beach. http://www.floridamemory.com/onlineclassroom/marybethune/

Bethune-Cookman College: A Rock in a Weary Land  (Video) This film provides an overview of the college and its individual departments. http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/232412

Bicentennial Bethune  This film provides a brief summary of the life and achievements of Mary McLeod Bethune. It includes still images of the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls, Bethune-Cookman College, and the Mary McLeod Bethune home.    http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/232411

Zora Neale Hurston  This page provides a compilation of the known Zora Neale Hurston sound recordings created while she worked for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. http://www.floridamemory.com/audio/hurston.php

Zora Neale Hurston, the WPA in Florida, and the Cross City Turpentine Camp  Learn about Hurston’s work with the WPA in Florida. http://www.floridamemory.com/onlineclassroom/zora_hurston/

Daily Life

Portraits of African Americans  from the Alvan S. Harper Collection (1884-1910) (Photographs)
These images represent the teachers, business owners, and local leaders of Tallahassee’s vibrant African-American community. http://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/harper/

Twine Collection  (1922-1927) (Photographs) Lincolnville was the center of the black business and residential community in St. Augustine. http://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/harper/

Images of Florida's Black History  These images depict glimpses of African-American history in Florida. http://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/black_history/

Audio

Shall We Gather at the River  This music compilation, produced by the State Library and Archives of Florida, features African-American spiritual music. http://www.floridamemory.com/audio/cd3.php

Interview with Railroader Tom Watson  Interviewed in 1988, Watson reflects on his 30 years with the Jacksonville railroad, including civil rights issues, working conditions for African-Americans, and integration http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/235315

Video

Jake Gaither This film is a tribute to Jake Gaither, former head football coach at FAMU in Tallahassee. http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/232399

Luna Plantation This film features scenes from a 20th century hunting plantation where African-Americans worked as farmers, domestic workers, and as guides for hunting parties. http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/243140

The Torch of Friendship This film promotes the historic Hampton House Hotel in Miami, a business oriented to an African-American clientele. http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/232404

Other Resources               

The African-American Mosaic  A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html

African-American Odyssey  Collections and exhibits from American Memory (Library of Congress). http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/aohome.html

TIME for Kids  Black History Month from Time Magazine.                                                                    http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/black-history-month