Black History

Our Black History journey began with a traditional Kenyan song called “Tumekuja Kuimba” or Let us sing! So let us celebrate and sing our rich cultural history, as in the words of educator, stateswoman, and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune: “For I am my mothers’ daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in my heart.”

From 1619-1865, slavery was a legal institution within the United States that imprisoned and oppressed the African American community.

After the 13th amendment and the ending of slavery in 1865, the United States entered a new dark and transitional period of the Jim Crow Era, where although Blacks in America were technically free, institutionalized segregation laws and hostile racism still oppressed the Black community. It was during this time period in 1900 when our very own Jacksonville native brothers James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson co-wrote “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” the song that the NAACP later dubbed the official Black national anthem.

The 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s, and 1960’s began what we commonly think of as the civil rights era in America, though it is important to note that civil rights have been fought for since the first slave landed in America and are still being fought for today.

In 1935, American Beach on Amelia Island was founded by Florida’s first black millionaire, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, as a place where African Americans could have a place to vacation and own homes by the shore.

In 1934, Brown verses Board of Education ruled to de-segregate public schools.

In 1955, Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Boycott used peaceful protest as the most powerful force against violence and hatred. In 1963, Martin Luther King gave his “I Have A Dream” speech to 250,000 people at the March on Washington. Finally resulting in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Aretha Franklin 1967 “RESPECT” is an anthem about demanding respect, and also a power anthem for Black women by one of the most influential soul singers of all time. As the queen said herself, “We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.”

Bob Marley and the Wailers “Get Up Stand Up” in 1973 is an anthem to fighting for rights. The Rastafarian sage put it very clearly when he said, “If you’re white and you’re wrong, then you’re wrong; if you’re black and you’re wrong, you’re wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green – God made no rules about color; only society makes rules where my people suffer, and that’s why we must have redemption and redemption now.”

Michael Jackson’s 1987 recording “Man in the Mirror” is an anthem to personal responsibility and morality, like Michael Jackson himself said, “In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”

The night ended with a contemporary figure of Black power and grace, Beyoncé Knowles, who said “I know I’m stronger in the songs than I really am. Sometimes I need to hear it myself. We all need to hear those empowering songs to remind us.” Her song Freedom featuring a rap by Kendrick Lamar and it is a call for continued progress and freedom for all.