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Black Miami in the 20th Century: Florida History and Culture

Chase Morris

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Published in Black Miami In The Twentieth Century (Florida History And Culture)

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Black Miami in the 20th century was a vibrant and dynamic community with a rich history and culture.

Black Miami in the Twentieth Century (Florida History and Culture)

4.7 out of 5

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The first African Americans arrived in Miami in the late 19th century, as part of the Great Migration from the rural South. They settled in the city's Overtown neighborhood, which quickly became a thriving black community.

Overtown was home to a number of black-owned businesses, including churches, schools, and social clubs. The neighborhood was also a center for African American culture, with its own theaters, music venues, and newspapers.

In the 1920s, Overtown reached its peak as a black cultural center. The neighborhood was home to a number of jazz clubs, including the famous Lyric Theater, which hosted such legendary performers as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

However, the Great Depression hit Overtown hard, and the neighborhood began to decline. In the 1950s, the construction of the I-95 expressway split Overtown in half, further isolating the community.

Despite these challenges, Black Miami continued to thrive in the 20th century. In the 1960s, the city's black community played a major role in the civil rights movement. And in the 1970s, Miami became a major destination for black immigrants from the Caribbean.

Today, Black Miami is a thriving and diverse community, with a rich history and culture. The city is home to a number of black-owned businesses, churches, and cultural institutions. And Overtown, once the heart of Black Miami, is undergoing a revitalization, with new businesses and residents moving into the neighborhood.

Prominent Black Miamians

W.E.B. Du Bois, civil rights activist and author
Zora Neale Hurston, novelist and folklorist
Marjory Stoneman Douglas, environmentalist and author
Harry T. Moore, civil rights activist
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader
Jackie Robinson, baseball player
Muhammad Ali, boxer
Sidney Poitier, actor
James Weldon Johnson, author and NAACP leader
D.A. Dorsey, businessman and philanthropist

Black Miami Institutions

Bethune-Cookman College, a historically black college
Florida Memorial University, a historically black college
Miami-Dade College, a public college with a large black student population
Overtown Historic District, a historic black neighborhood
Lyric Theater, a historic jazz club
The Black Archives, History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc., a research center dedicated to preserving the history of black Miami
The Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, a museum dedicated to the history of black law enforcement in Miami

Black Miami Culture

Jazz, a genre of music that originated in black communities in the United States
Soul food, a cuisine that originated in black communities in the United States
Gospel music, a genre of music that originated in black churches in the United States
Hip hop, a genre of music that originated in black communities in the United States
Junkanoo, a Bahamian street festival that is celebrated in black communities in Miami

Black Miami is a vibrant and dynamic community with a rich history and culture. The city is home to a number of black-owned businesses, churches, and cultural institutions. And Overtown, once the heart of Black Miami, is undergoing a revitalization, with new businesses and residents moving into the neighborhood.

Black Miami in the Twentieth Century (Florida History and Culture)

4.7 out of 5