Florida Sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail

By Andrew Meacham The struggle for equal rights defies calendar dates, even Black History Month. Some of its wounds still lie fresh, and some of the biggest victories remain incomplete. Five Florida landmarks got a major boost in 2018, however, by being listed on the United States Civil Rights…

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Explore Florida’s Black Heritage Trail

A driving tour along the Florida Black Heritage Trail unveils some of the state’s most prominent historic African-American sites. From the earliest days of territorial exploration in the 16th century, right up to the present day, black history in Florida has been a vital part of the great struggle…

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10 Places Black Community And Pensacola Come Together

By Andrew Wardlow for VISIT FLORIDA The history of greater Pensacola is intertwined with the story of its black community like the roots of a heritage oak standing guard over St. Michael's Cemetery. The markers of that legacy stretch from deep time — such as the stone marking the final resting…

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African-Inspired Cuisine in Florida

Florida’s cultural diversity -- from the Caribbean, Latin America, and all parts of the world -- adds to the culinary experiences you can have during your visit. In Northern Florida, you’ll find Southern culinary traditions with influences from the Geechee and Gullah cultures, while the Panhandle…

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Black History in Southwest Florida

By Andrea Jackson In 1954, Carl Strickland -- the first black officer to serve on the Naples force, and the first Naples police officer killed in the line of duty -- was buried in an unmarked grave in a segregated cemetery almost an hour from his hometown. Strickland had served only 30 days before…

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Eatonville Florida: America’s Oldest Incorporated Black Community

By Gary McKechnie I grew up outside of Orlando in the small town of Maitland, which borders the smaller town of Eatonville. Even then I knew that Eatonville was the nation’s oldest incorporated black community (it was founded in 1887), but it wasn’t until I visited again a few weeks ago did I…

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