By Special to the Daily World
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Claiming a who’s who of prominent African-American residents and serving as eyewitness to a number of society-altering happenings, Tallahassee is enriched with a deep-rooted African-American heritage. Momentous events such as the 1865 reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 1956 bus boycott that resulted in the abolishment of segregated seating on public transportation weave together with civil rights monuments and an array of noteworthy sites to create a unique cultural tapestry and an African-American experience that is distinctively Tallahassee.
Though many of the voices have now fallen silent, the message and achievements of Tallahassee’s many African American heroes live on through its historic homes and structures. Preserved treasures such as the Riley House and the Union Bank, tell of the crushing struggles and the inspiring triumphs of Tallahassee’s Black community. Follow the trail of these heritage sites and relive the African-American experience as told by these living remnants.
Visit churches, schools and universities, museums, clubs, hotels, and many other sites in Tallahassee to find out what African Americans did for this city.
Tallahassee is celebrating Black History Month by inviting visitors to experience the month of February by exploring Tallahassee’s multitude of African-American sites, such as the C.K. Steele Memorial and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU).
Some events will last through May 2011. For more information contact Lindy McCullers at 850-668-2222 or [email protected].