The Legacy Of African Americans
- Details
- Category: Lifestyle/People
- Published: Wednesday, 21 January 2015 19:30
by Lawrence A. Robinson
Interesting. I just received a book from one of my brothers, who still lives in Tampa. The book is titled, 'African Americans Of Tampa'. This is a historical picture book of Tampa and Hillsborough County, Fl. of how Black people, their events and their activities influenced growth and changes in the area. It chronicled the struggles, the wins and losses of 'Negro' life in Florida's 'City by the Bay.'
My family appears in the book several times. There is even an image of me as a toddler, when I was cute and lovable.
I am honored.
I knew that my parents and my grand parents were 'leaders' in the community, but I had never really
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analyzed to what extent was their involvement in community activities. They were advocates for justice as was so many others listed in the book.
There are many images of regular people doing what it takes to survive in the post slavery and the Jim Crow era. The struggles, the wins and the losses. Many regular people rose in the community to hero status because they dared to push farther than the average person. Dared to show courage in the face of losing it all and working on the chain gang or even death
The book talked about the Negro longshoremen in Tampa. I remember these people talking to my parents at times. The Negro longshoremen's union was very strong and active in the community.
Ersula Knox Odom was very successful in capturing the spirit, the soul and the valor of the times for this publication. I had the honor of a conversation with Ms. Odom and we talked about the, 'African Americans of Tampa.' She talked about the real visualization in people's minds as they recognized their history in book form. You may see the video of the conversation here.
When I was very young, African Americans in Tampa controlled their newspaper, radio and other communications. We supported our community by supporting Black owned businesses.
Obviously, religion was very important in our community. Independent churches and church groups was a very strong influence in the community. The pastor filled the congregation with spirit and truth. But the church was also a meeting place to talk about important community issues and solutions.
Tampa Negroes owned their own insurance company and other mainstream business.
Our community had our own grocery stores, restaurants, rooming houses, churches, beauty and barber shops, shoe shine stands, trucking companies and many other businesses that were all owned and supported by Blacks.
Organizations like the NAACP, Urban League, fraternities and sororities were very active in their support of the community.
Looking through the images and reading this book allowed me the luxury or remembering our ancestors from hundreds of years ago who struggled to make life better for me. It showed me the struggles and sacrifices Black people had to endure just to survive and then strive.
I am noticing a parallel in what went on Hillsborough County with the Black struggle during the period of 1900 through 1975, and what is going on right now in this community in Orlando.
As a child, I watched Tampa's "Black Wall Street" destroyed as the construction of Interstate IV tore through the Black financial district. Much the same type of gentrification that goes on in many parts of the country to disperse Blacks and destroy their dreams and their children's future.
It really appears to me that we are having to fight the same battles again. Too many of us just stand and watch our history being gobbled up in the name of progress. Some of us even criticize the older generation for continuing the fight instead of stepping in to help.
Someone has to.
Here in Orlando, the destruction of the Parramore area is on going in order to build 'their' playgrounds for their sports stadiums and performing arts venues. These thing are not for us, but they took our land and out businesses to build it.
Maybe we should all get a copy of this book by Ersula Knox Odom, 'African Americans of Tampa" so that we can get an appreciation of the struggles and the depth our forefathers came from and fought for because we seem to forget that we are in a fight.
Ersula Knox Odom authored several books, essays and audio books. She even appeared on many stages portraying Mary McLeod Bethune and even performed that one person show at the Wells Built Museum here in Orlando. For more information and to purchase this book, please visit www.sula2.com