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Tampa

Black history celebrated on Central

Tampa's Black History Committee presents events focused on Florida Emancipation Day and the area's history.

By ANNE ARSENAULT
Published May 6, 2005

One hundred and forty years ago this month, Florida lawmakers read the Emancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee, officially informing enslaved blacks of their freedom. In the years following, Tampa's black community thrived along Central Avenue.

On Sunday, the city of Tampa's Black History Committee kicks off the First Annual Historic Central Avenue Expo with events that focus on Florida Emancipation Day and the area's rich history.

Mayor Pam Iorio suggested the committee expand the celebration after the success of last year's Historic Central Avenue Reunion, said Fred Hearns, Tampa's director of community affairs and adviser to the Black History Committee. This year, organizers have put together 16 events over the two-week period, which ends May 22.

Central Avenue and the surrounding area reached its height during the Jim Crow days, when discrimination was rampant. The downtown Central Avenue district drew performers such as B.B. King, Ray Charles and Cab Calloway and was home to more than 100 black-owned businesses.

"During its hey day - up until the late 1960s - it was a destination for African-Americans from all over the world," Hearns said.

A highlight of the expo will be the "Get on the Central Avenue Bus" tour, he said. The three-hour guided tour will take riders to 35 landmarks and sites of interest.

A family festival will be from noon to 6 p.m. May 14 at Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1200 Orange Ave. Iorio is scheduled to attend, and James Tokley, Tampa's poet laureate, will read his poem on the history of Central Avenue.

The expo culminates May 20 with the third annual Florida Emancipation Day Celebration and the start of the three-day John E. Brady Memorial Basketball Tournament.

Other events include:

Mother's Day Gospel Extravaganza - 2:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Greater Bethel Baptist Church, 1206 N Jefferson St.

African-American Economic Development Day Seminar - 8:30 to noon Monday in the Ybor Room of Hillsborough Community College, Ybor Campus, 2001 N 14th St.

Neighborhood Career Fair - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Tampa/Hillsborough County Urban League, 2306 N Howard Ave.

Sylvia Rodriguez-Kimbell Race Relations Symposium - 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Children's Board, 1002 E Palm Ave.

Fair Housing and Home Ownership Seminar - 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Kid Mason Community Center, 1101 N Jefferson St.

Black Classic Film Screening - View and discuss Black Like Me and The Color of Fear, from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the HCC Ybor Performing Arts Theatre, 2001 N 14th St.

Booker T. Washington School 80th Anniversary and Historic Marker Dedication - 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at Booker T. Washington School, 1407 E Estelle St.

Historic Central Avenue "Get on the Central Avenue Bus" tour - 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday starting at the Robert W. Saunders Library, 1505 N Nebraska Ave. Cost is $5.

Events are free unless noted. For information or a complete list of events, call 274-5833 or go to www.tampagov.net/dept_community_affairs Click on Events this Month.

[Last modified May 5, 2005, 01:31:12]