Jacksonville, Florida
“Let’s celebrate #Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday by recognizing the generations of enslaved Black people who fought so hard for their freedom. And one of the best ways to do that is by fortifying our sacred right to vote. Right now, we have the opportunity to Read More …
Join I’m A Star teen influencers for a viewing of the PBS Documentary Black Wall Street Saturday. Students ages 12-18 will learn about the thriving black business district in the affluent Greenwood community of Tulsa, Oklahoma. As 2021 marks 100 years since the Tulsa Race Read More …
One hundred years ago today, the first bombs ever dropped on American soil were dropped on the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Ok. Greenwood – the most preeminent Black community in the United States at the time – was home to 10,000 residents and contained scores Read More …
Jacksonville was named for General Andrew Jackson, the first military governor of Florida who, incidentally, never visited Jacksonville. Duval Street, like the county, was named for William Pope Duval, the first Territorial Governor of Florida. Isiah Hart, who founded Jacksonville, named two of the city’s Read More …
It is unclear when and where Memorial Day began. More than two dozen U.S. cities claim to the be the “Birthplace of Memorial Day.” There’s Macon, Ga., and Richmond, Va. And Columbus, Miss., which claims women there decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate Read More …
Today in 1972, the Jacksonville Symphony held a sesquicentennial concert that featured an original composition by Duke Ellington entitled “Celebration”, written specifically for Jacksonville’s 150th birthday. Ellington himself was on hand at Jacksonville’s Civic Auditorium for the special evening and the performance received rave reviews. Read More …
“We are so excited to announce that Deesha Philyaw – Writer‘s “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies” (West Virginia University Press) has been selected as the winner of the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction!” “I’m deeply honored and thankful to receive the PEN/Faulkner Award for Read More …
Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play baseball in the Major Leagues, played his first Minor League exhibition game with the Montreal Royals against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Daytona Beach on this date in 1946. The following season, Robinson was called up to the Read More …
Sculptor Augusta Christine Savage (née Fells) was born in Green Gove Springs on February 29, 1892. Savage was considered a preeminent contributor to the Harlem Renaissance movement of the early twentieth century. Her work was featured in many prominent shows, including the 1939 New York Read More …
This month we have highlighted local Black artists and art in honor of Black History Month. Today’s artist is Dustin Harewood. He was born and grew up in New York City in the 1980’s and became a junior member of the Brooklyn Museum at Read More …
All month long, we have been highlighting local Black artists and art for Black History Month. Marsha Hatcher is a passionate artist who has made a name for herself since moving to Jacksonville more than 30 years ago. “I like what I do when it Read More …
Ten years after the Great Fire Jacksonville’s population had nearly doubled to 57,699. 29,293 were black, 28,329 were white. Churches, schools, businesses, a new city hall, a new library, skyscrapers, and many other buildings had been built with more going up every day. The city’s Read More …
The Roosevelt was one of several theaters in LaVilla, the historically African-American neighborhood adjacent to downtown Jacksonville. The other theaters were the Strand, the Frolic, Excelsior Hall, Little Savoy, The Colored Airdome, the Globe, and the Ritz. Opened in 1949, the Roosevelt was located at Read More …
Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., the first African American to reach the rank of four-star general, was born in Pensacola on this date in 1920. He grew up in Florida and became interested in flying at a young age. He later graduated from the Tuskegee Institute Read More …
We continue our celebration of Black History Month by highlighting local Black Artists and their art. Traci Mims Artist is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida currently living and working in Jacksonville, Florida. She says “Art has always been a part of my Read More …
Our Black History Month celebration continues by highlighting Black artists and Black art in the community. Did you know that the Jacksonville Public Library has an original Augusta Savage sculpture? The piece, whose title is unknown, is available in the Special Collections Department for the Read More …
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, we will highlight local Black artists & art like Christopher Clark, Cooli Ras Art all month long. Since selling his first piece at Downtown Vision, Inc. Art Walk 8 years ago, we have seen much more of Read More …
To celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize local black artists & art around our great city. The latest works from Jacksonville native Keith Doles, Artist are great additions to our JaxParks . Keith recently completed an amazing mural on the basketball court at Read More …