Black history is alive and well in Florida. In the early history when Europeans explorers first came to Florida accounts can be found of their Afro-American slaves encountering the native cultures and escaping from their white captors and living among them.
Legends of recorded black history go back to 1603 where reports can be found of black slaves that escaped from the Spanish in St. Augustine and lived among the local Indians in the Cape Canaveral area. "Seven black slaves escaped from St. Augustine and headed towards Sorruque (Indian tribal land), Ybarra's search party captured five of the runaways, but the other two reached Ais territory" reported a Spanish governor. Other literature indicate that the early Cape Canaveral lighthouse was built by escaped black freedman who lived with the Indians. More black history stories can be found at http://www.FloridaTales.us .
Many new and exciting initiaves are underway to record Black History in Florida. One of the partners of the Viva Florida 500 project has just launched a new project called Freedom Road Trail. This project explains how the Underground Railway ( used to help escaped slaves find freedom) extended into Florida. The Viva Florida 500 Project itself has an Afro-American Heirtage Trail along with other trails. Recently at the Zora Fest the Florida Historical Society showcased their exhibit demonstrating that Zora Neale Hurston actually for one period in her life lived in Eau Gallie Florida and worked at a technical library for Pan Am in Satellite.
Readers interested in the black history of Florida are encourage to follow this author's column as new stories will unfold.
-RKO
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