The Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network

 Last week we discussed the Florida Black Heritage Trail, so we thought it appropriate that this week we take time to introduce you to one of the major contributors to that effort. The Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network (FAAHPN) was founded in 2001 by the John G. Riley Center Museum located in Tallahassee. FAAHPN provides technical assistance and information to institutions and organizations wishing to preserve Florida's African American history. They offer training, content creation, consultation, and more. 

The John G. Riley Riley Center Museum in
Tallahassee is a great local resource for 
exploring African American history locally and 
statewide. 

The FAAHPM has a great blog where they promote member events throughout the state. They also promote member events and news on their page. Their website and social media are great resources for discovering more about African American history in Florida. The website lists  publications, events, and other resources, which will soon include digital archives as well. Of course, right now many of their member's events are virtual, but there are still quite a variety of events taking  place. And hey, the great thing about virtual events is that anybody can attend from anywhere! 

If you are a museum or institution dedicated to African American history in Florida and would like to join please check out their website. If you are a citizen of Florida or a visitor, please take the time to check out their website to learn about the numerous museums and organizations dedicated to sharing Florida's rich African American history. 

Discover a New Place with Florida's Black Heritage Trail

 

Front Cover of "The Florida 
Black Heritage Trail (photo 
courtesy of 

We could highlight a new Florida black heritage site every week for months! But the Florida Department of State has already compiled such a wonderful resource, so we have chosen to highlight that! The Florida Black Heritage Trail is a wonderful resource to help you get started learning about Florida's rich African American history.  I guarantee that even a lifelong Floridan will thumb through the pages of this booklet and learn something new. In 1990, the Florida state legislature created the Study Commission on African American History in Florida to help increase public awareness of African American contributions to our state. This heritage trail was a result of that study. The third edition of this booklet was released in 2007 and features 64 colorful pages of African American history in Florida. It highlights sites, provides biographical sketches of many distinguished African American Floridians, and it is available both in print and digitally for free!

African Americans have been instrumental in shaping Florida's history. Their culture and heritage are interwoven into the fabric of what makes Florida such a richly diverse and unique state. From Zora Neale Hurston, an anthropologist and writer, to the many maroon communities, including Fort Gadsden, they have left a rich cultural heritage that still influences many aspects of our state. From Pensacola to Key West, African American influences can be found throughout Florida. 

Ritz Theater in Jacksonville 
(photo courtesy of the Florida Department 
of State, Division of Historical 
Resources)

All of the sites listed in the booklet are open to the public (although, please check their website for current hours and COVID protocols). We also really appreciate how easy this resource is to use! It is organized by region and county an provides a very through summary of the sites. Several FPAN staffers are known to keeps a copy of several heritage trail brochures in their personal vehicles. That way they can take a peek and see what is around  when visiting a different part of the state.

 There are a variety of heritage trails published by the Florida Department of State, and sometimes you will see the same site in multiple booklets. Our history is complex and often times a site will have numerous cultural components. That is what is so great about our state's history! And we are lucky to have these amazing booklets to help us learn and experience Florida's unique heritage. We hope that you will take advantage of this great resource. Whether you are a teacher looking for new classroom resources, or a retiree looking for a fun day trip, there is something in the Florida's Black Heritage Trail for everyone. 

Black History Month: An Appropriate Time to Reflect on Archaeology's Colonial Roots

 When you think of what an archaeologist looks like, you probably think of someone like Indian Jones, Laura Croft, or even myself (a white female). What do all of us have in common though, whether real or fictitious? We are all white. The hard truth is that archaeology has its roots in colonialism. While this is most definitely unfortunate, it is important that archaeologists come to terms with  and acknowledge this in order to move forward and mend relationships with those communities and cultures that may have been taken advantage of early on in the field's history. One of the results stemming from its colonial beginnings is the fact that archaeology is dominated by Caucasian archaeologists. Related to that is the issue that those that do not identify as white, are often not accepted into the field or are pressured into studying their own ancestral history rather than the topics of their choosing. At its worst, the colonial origins of archaeology has helped fuel racism and perpetuated white supremacy throughout history.  

Colonial practices have lead to many misinterpretations
of archaeological sites, including this one in
Zimbabwe. Archaeologists perpetuated the idea that
 this wall and tower structure were constructed by 
outsiders rather than Africans (photo courtesy of 
The Conversation)

Having recognized this issue, there is a movement among many archaeologists to change things. One of archaeology's strengths is the ability to tell the story of those forgotten or neglected in the history books (which were often written by, you guessed it, white dudes!). Everybody leaves a mark upon this earth, and that includes minorities, women, and children, all of who are often excluded from historical documentation for a variety of reasons.  Having more diversity in a branch of science dedicated to studying past cultures can only be beneficial to ensure a more holistic and inclusive interpretation of our collective past. 

This leads us to highlight The Society of Black Archaeologists. Established in 2011, this organization is dedicated to both working to  diversify the field of archaeology and ensuring the ethical treatment of African and African diaspora cultural remains.  One of their projects includes documenting the experience of black archaeologists through their Oral History Project (very insightful, be sure to check it out!). This project not only documents their experiences, but also highlights the successes and contributions made by archaeologists of African descent. If you would like to learn more about efforts regarding archaeology and historic preservation of sites significant to African descendant communities, their resources page is a great place to get started. Of course, the responsibility of mending past and current injustices in archaeology does not rest solely on the shoulders of the oppressed. It is up to every archaeologist, historian, and all those interested in the study of the past, to ensure that we include stories from all walks of life in our documented history, and that anybody who wants to study the past has the opportunity to do so.