History of African Americans in Jacksonville facts for kids

African Americans have played a very important part in the history and growth of Jacksonville, Florida. About 31% of the people in Jacksonville are African American, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

History of African Americans in Jacksonville

Early Arrivals in Florida

In 1562, a French explorer named Jean Ribault came to the St. Johns River. He met the native Timucuan Indians. Ribault and his group, the French Huguenots, built Fort Caroline near the river. This was their first try at starting a permanent colony in Florida.

Later, in 1565, a Spanish leader named Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded St. Augustine. This is the oldest place in the United States where people have lived without stopping. The Spanish used St. Augustine to attack Fort Caroline. Both the French and Spanish brought enslaved Africans to Florida to work. These enslaved and some free Africans helped build forts, churches, and shops. They also cleared land for farming.

Freedom Seekers in Early Florida

In 1687, the first enslaved person escaped from Carolina and reached Florida. The Spanish king had made a rule that offered freedom to enslaved people who escaped to Florida. Many more enslaved Africans came to Florida seeking freedom. In 1733, the king made this rule even stronger. He said that escaped enslaved people would not be sent back to the English. They only had to work for the Spanish king for four years to become free.

In 1738, the governor of Florida, Manuel de Montiano, gave land to many freedom seekers. This land was north of St. Augustine. There, they built their own fort. These people became Catholic and adopted Spanish names and customs. This community, called Fort Mose, became the first free African settlement in North America. It had 38 men and their families. The men had to serve in the military to protect their community.

Florida Becomes Part of the U.S.

In 1821, Florida became part of the United States through a deal called the Adams–Onís Treaty. After this, new laws were made that greatly limited the rights of African Americans. These laws made it hard for them to live freely.

African Americans were not allowed to carry guns or serve on juries. They could not speak against white people in court. They also had to pay unfair taxes and follow a curfew. These laws made life very difficult and unfair for them.

Challenges During Reconstruction and Jim Crow

From the early 1880s to the late 1950s, Jacksonville faced a lot of racial unfairness and violence. African American men were often victims of mob violence during this time.

One example of mob violence happened on July 4, 1910. A group of white gangs attacked black people who were celebrating a boxing champion's victory. James Weldon Johnson, an important African American leader in Jacksonville, worked to stop this hate. He met with the mayor to make Jacksonville a safer place for everyone. Johnson also helped create chances for black people to improve their lives and encouraged unity between black and white communities.

The Civil Rights Movement in Jacksonville

A very important event was "Ax Handle Saturday" on August 27, 1960. On this day, a group of young black teenagers tried to sit at a lunch counter that was only for white people. Sit-ins like this were common during the Civil Rights Movement in the South.

More than 200 white men, carrying wooden ax handles, attacked the peaceful black protestors. This event inspired the Youth Council of Jacksonville to start nonviolent sit-ins. The leader of this movement in Jacksonville was Rutledge Pearson. Pearson was a young civil rights activist and a history teacher. He taught his students that "freedom is not free" and encouraged them to learn about black history.

Pearson planned a sit-in at Hemming Park, a central shopping area. He warned his followers that there might be violence, but he told them not to fight back. Pearson himself was threatened, but he continued his work for desegregation and equal rights. He and his followers faced physical and verbal abuse from a large crowd of white men.

Important African American Landmarks

Kingsley Plantation

The Kingsley Plantation is a historic place that was once a large farm. It was owned by Zephaniah Kingsley and Anna Kingsley, who were an interracial couple. Zephaniah Kingsley was a slave trader who owned many plantations in Florida. He sometimes allowed enslaved people to buy their freedom by working for him.

Anna Kingsley was once enslaved but was freed by Mr. Kingsley. They had four children who lived and worked on the plantation. When Anna Kingsley turned 18, Mr. Kingsley let her manage the plantation. Today, Kingsley Plantation is an important historic landmark in Jacksonville.

Stanton College Preparatory School

The Stanton College Preparatory School started as an elementary school for African American children in 1860. Today, it is a high school for grades 9-12. A group of former enslaved people started the school to educate their children.

The Freedmen's Bureau, an organization that helped freed slaves, gave money to build Stanton Institute. Its goal was to train African American women aged 16-25 to become teachers. Today, Stanton Preparatory School is ranked as one of the best schools in the United States and among the top in Florida.

J.P. Small Memorial Stadium

The J.P. Small Memorial Stadium was built in 1911 for the Negro Baseball League. It was the first public sports field in Jacksonville. The field was first called the Joseph E. Durkee Athletic Field, named after Joseph Durkee, a Civil War officer who settled in Jacksonville.

This field was home to the Jacksonville Tars, an African American baseball team, and other local Negro League teams. Major League Baseball teams like the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers also played there. A famous African American player, Hank Aaron, played on this field for the Jacksonville Braves, a minor league team. Today, the stadium is used by everyone in Jacksonville.

Notable African Americans from Jacksonville

• A. Philip Randolph - A leader in the Civil Rights Movement (1889-1979)
• Corrine Brown - A U.S. representative (born 1946)
• Alvin Brown - The first African American mayor of Jacksonville (2011-2015) (born 1961)
• James Weldon Johnson - A writer and Civil Rights activist (1871-1938)
• Mary McLeod Bethune - An educator and Civil Rights activist (1875–1955)
• Derrick Henry - An NFL football player (born 1994)
• Bob Hayes - An NFL football player and Olympic gold medalist in running (1942-2002)
• Brian Dawkins - An NFL football player (born 1973)
• Artis Gilmore - An NBA basketball player (born 1949)