Black History Matters
Black History Matters
Black History Matters
Racial Justice
ABOUT THIS RESOURCE PAGE
On this page, through original interviews, local articles, and other media, Miami's own community members preserve our history.
We record here how white supremacy and its tools of capitalism and classism (among others) have birthed the problems we currently face, and how the movements of those who came before us are inspiring us to take action today. This too is history in the making that should not be forgotten nor erased.
"In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” —Angela Davis
MIAMI’S ROOTS
Did you know that Miami became a city in 1896 when 367 people voted for the city’s charter? Of the 367 people, 162 were Black men. This was well before the 1964 Voting Rights Act, yet without these Black men, Miami would not have had the required number of people to officially establish the city. Once this charter was signed, however, the enforcement of Jim Crow laws resumed until the early 1950s.
To this day we still have not seen the end of discriminatory practices like those experienced at Miami's founding. Racist laws and decades of suppression and disinvestment have hindered countless Floridians from experiencing the dignified life they deserve.
From a systems level, many of us have lacked equitable access to economic advancement, affordable housing, clean communities, safe neighborhoods, quality education, and more. Communities like Coconut Grove and Overtown, where generations of Black Americans worked to build not only their own livelihoods, but also the foundations of Miami, are being displaced through gentrification, dismantled through destructive infrastructure projects, and disenfranchised through targeted redistricting.
THE IMPACT TODAY
The experiences of those 162 Black Miamians in 1896, and the hundreds of thousands that came before and after them, are of critical value to our American history. The recent bans on Black history studies are directly correlated to white supremacy’s hold on our society, which views the rigorous evaluation and preservation of the Black experience as a threat to the current power dynamic. As Robin D. G. Kelley says, any critical look at this history exposes that “the way the system works now benefits a few at the expense of the many.” It’s no coincidence then that for a century it was illegal for enslaved or free Black people to learn how to read or write.
When we do not know our history, we are doomed to repeat it; and these bans only continue limiting the better future we are building for us all.
Video Archive
Full-length interviews will be added to our YouTube channel.
Miami's Black History
Overtown
Once known as Colored Town, and now the “Harlem of the South”, Overtown is one of the oldest Black cities in Miami and was the epicenter of Black wealth, entertainment, and culture. Though segregated, the Black residents, entrepreneurs, and professionals built a thriving community. However, with the construction of I-95, this progress was decimated and over 15,000 people were displaced. Systemic neglect and isolation caused dozens of businesses to close and widespread poverty. Hundreds of community members and activists have come together in years since to reclaim the history and valor of this historic community.
Liberty City
Liberty Square was home to a thriving Black community in the United States’ first public housing project in the Southeast. Though segregated, with a physical wall still in existence today, this community was the promise of a better life for many Black Miamians. However, by the 1960s white flight had taken many resources and promises to other parts of the city. By 1980 with the acquittal of several police officers who beat and killed resident Arthur McDuffie, years of injustice boiled over into race riots that destroyed much of the community. The city received funds to restore and rebuild, however, these funds were again distributed elsewhere. The community has struggled to recover and with the redevelopment of Liberty Square, Liberty City Rising, many of the age-old concerns about neglect and displacement continue. Read a history of Liberty City from the New Tropic here.
Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove is the earliest settlement in Miami-Dade as many Black Bahamians settlers came to build what is now known as the Peacock Inn. The community thrived in the mid-1880s and the early 1900s with Black-owned businesses and historic shotgun houses. After WWII, the community began to have an influx of veterans and other white settlers who then pushed out most of the community. Many legacy residents, historians, and activists are speaking out about this rich history and seeking to preserve the remnants of this fruitful community. Click here to watch episodes 2 and 3.
Virginia Key Beach
Miami’s historic Black-only beach opened in 1945. The luxurious Miami Beach we know today was off-limits to Black Miamians without a work-only permit. Therefore, Virginia Key opened as a sacred and safe haven for the Black community as a major gathering place. It remained segregated through the 50s but was closed in 1982 by the city of Miami due to claims of the high cost of maintenance and operations. In 1999 the Virginia Key Beach Trust was established as a board of Black stakeholders to oversee the park and in 2002 was registered as a National Historic Place. In 2022 the park was taken over by the Miami city commission in replace of the historic trust with talks of placing a homeless encampment on the site.
Miami Gardens
Miami Carol City Senior High School. Photo courtesy of Tilt-up Concrete Association.
Miami Gardens, once developed as military housing became home to many advancing Black Miamians as they were displaced from communities like Overtown into Carol City and Richmond Heights. The community has since been a place called home for many Black Miamians and was pushed to incorporate by Black activists in 2003.
Brownsville
Brownsville is home to the Historic Hampton House and was a bustling community during the Green Book era. The community is known for its historians like Dr. Enid Pinkney and its impact on the civil rights movement as a gathering place for leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali. The Dade Heritage Trust in the community is now a staple committed to preserving Black Miami’s historic places. The fight to keep Brownsville from being annexed into the city of Hialeah and to maintain its integrity has been upheld by local activists, and the mayor has halted plans to divide this community.
Additional Resources
- Resources for teachers
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Miami's Black History
- Miami Herald Collection of Stories on Black History Month
- A World More Concrete by N.D.B. Connolly
- Black American History Crash Course
- Historical Stories through Black Miami Dade - Nadege Green
- Black Miami in the Twentieth Century - Dr. Marvin Dunn
- The Crucifixion of Colored Town Documentary
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Black History Matters
- The Meaning of African American Studies - The New Yorker
- Why There's a Fight Over AP African American Studies by Sharon Driscoll-Stanford
- Florida's struggle to teach Black history has become a battle of who controls the past - Miami Herald
- Ron DeSantis Did Not Start This Fight - The Atlantic
- DEI Funding to be cut - CNN
- Changes to AP African American History after backlash - NY Times
- SB266 Signed - NBC Miami
- Black History IS American History - NAACP
Dwight M. Bullard is the Senior Political Advisor of Florida Rising. Leading the organization to bring political education and awareness to underserved and often marginalized communities, he uplifts people in a way that makes them the masters of their own destiny.
Dwight M. Bullard is the Senior Political Advisor of Florida Rising. Leading the organization to bring political education and awareness to underserved and often marginalized communities, he uplifts people in a way that makes them the masters of their own destiny.
Despite having a law degree, David Peery found himself homeless and living on the streets of Miami due to a bizarre intersection of a false arrest, unlawful self-help eviction, the loss of all of his possessions, and a job lay-off during the height of the 2008 recession. It became clear that homelessness isn’t due to personal irresponsibility, addiction or mental illness, but is deeply rooted in racism and our societal failure to ensure that housing is a fundamental human right. David became the federal class representative in the Pottinger v City of Miami consent decree that protected rights for unhoused persons in the City of Miami. He is active in several social justice and national homeless rights organizations, including serving as co-chair of the National Consumer Advisory Board for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. David has a law degree from George Washington University and works as grant writer and health care regulatory compliance consultant.
Despite having a law degree, David Peery found himself homeless and living on the streets of Miami due to a bizarre intersection of a false arrest, unlawful self-help eviction, the loss of all of his possessions, and a job lay-off during the height of the 2008 recession. It became clear that homelessness isn’t due to personal irresponsibility, addiction or mental illness, but is deeply rooted in racism and our societal failure to ensure that housing is a fundamental human right. David became the federal class representative in the Pottinger v City of Miami consent decree that protected rights for unhoused persons in the City of Miami. He is active in several social justice and national homeless rights organizations, including serving as co-chair of the National Consumer Advisory Board for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. David has a law degree from George Washington University and works as grant writer and health care regulatory compliance consultant.
Aaron McKinney
Aaron McKinney
Andrea Arrechea has over 8 years experience in child welfare and community engagement. Her interest in child welfare began at the University of South Florida while studying the theories and frameworks behind juvenile delinquency and juvenile deviance, most specifically the social factors that contribute to a juveniles interest in deviant behavior.
While at the University of Miami, Andrea obtained theoretical and professional experience in Higher Education focusing heavily on Student Life & Development and Enrollment Management.
Through her work at the Early Learning Coalition, Family Resource Center, Educate Tomorrow, and The Alliance for LGBTQ Youth, Andrea continues to develop a stronger understanding of the plight of vulnerable young people and how systems impact them on a daily basis.
Andrea Arrechea has over 8 years experience in child welfare and community engagement. Her interest in child welfare began at the University of South Florida while studying the theories and frameworks behind juvenile delinquency and juvenile deviance, most specifically the social factors that contribute to a juveniles interest in deviant behavior.
While at the University of Miami, Andrea obtained theoretical and professional experience in Higher Education focusing heavily on Student Life & Development and Enrollment Management.
Through her work at the Early Learning Coalition, Family Resource Center, Educate Tomorrow, and The Alliance for LGBTQ Youth, Andrea continues to develop a stronger understanding of the plight of vulnerable young people and how systems impact them on a daily basis.
Guided by the words of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, “Enter To Learn, Depart To Serve”; Vanessa Pierre is a transformative leader with over a decade of experience in the field of education specializing in STEM and English. Having studied at Bethune-Cookman University, Nova Southeastern University and Morgan State University at the Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral level, Vanessa prides herself in delivering impactful instruction to her student-learners that range from the K-12 to university level. Vanessa spearheaded the programming behind Art-Cademics Academy, a youth enrichment program teaching students using STEM curriculum which spanned throughout the summer, winter, weekend and after-school periods in Miami-Dade County.
Vanessa is a former political candidate for the city of North Miami council with experience serving on the city’s Sustainability Committee, Quality Education Board, Personnel Board and Parks & Recreation Commission.
Vanessa has been recognized by Ford Motor Company, HerImpact, 1863 Ventures, Comcast, The Rockefeller Foundation, Miami’s Next Leaders, SheBuilds Global Initiative, Black Girl Ventures, EndeavorMiami, Radical Partners, Refresh Miami, Social Times Magazine, Authority Magazine, ThriveGlobal Magazine, Happen Magazine and more; for her work in the recycling and sustainability sector transforming garbage to gold with her company EcoRenew Solutions.
Guided by the words of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, “Enter To Learn, Depart To Serve”; Vanessa Pierre is a transformative leader with over a decade of experience in the field of education specializing in STEM and English. Having studied at Bethune-Cookman University, Nova Southeastern University and Morgan State University at the Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral level, Vanessa prides herself in delivering impactful instruction to her student-learners that range from the K-12 to university level. Vanessa spearheaded the programming behind Art-Cademics Academy, a youth enrichment program teaching students using STEM curriculum which spanned throughout the summer, winter, weekend and after-school periods in Miami-Dade County.
Vanessa is a former political candidate for the city of North Miami council with experience serving on the city’s Sustainability Committee, Quality Education Board, Personnel Board and Parks & Recreation Commission.
Vanessa has been recognized by Ford Motor Company, HerImpact, 1863 Ventures, Comcast, The Rockefeller Foundation, Miami’s Next Leaders, SheBuilds Global Initiative, Black Girl Ventures, EndeavorMiami, Radical Partners, Refresh Miami, Social Times Magazine, Authority Magazine, ThriveGlobal Magazine, Happen Magazine and more; for her work in the recycling and sustainability sector transforming garbage to gold with her company EcoRenew Solutions.
Nayshma Jones
Nayshma Jones
