The history of Civil Rights in Florida is both a vivid testament to the courage of individuals and a reflection of the broader struggle for equality across the United States. As we look back through the lens of Florida's unique past, we witness the resilience of a people who defied injustice, organized against oppression, and changed the fabric of American society for generations to come.

From the earliest days of Spanish colonization, Florida has been a melting pot of cultures and, sadly, a stage for the imposition of slavery. By the time Florida was admitted to the Union in 1845, it was already entrenched in the institution of slavery, and African Americans faced brutal conditions. Yet, within this harsh environment, the seeds of resistance were planted.

Florida’s Civil Rights journey was shaped by seminal events such as the Reconstruction era following the Civil War, when African Americans experienced fleeting political gains, only to be crushed by the rise of Jim Crow laws. Black Floridians, who once held seats in the state legislature and local government, were systematically disenfranchised, as segregation and racial violence became the norm.

Throughout the early 20th century, Florida was a battleground for some of the most infamous episodes of racial violence in U.S. history. The Ocoee Massacre of 1920, in which an entire Black community was violently uprooted for exercising their right to vote, and the Rosewood Massacre of 1923, where another Black community was destroyed, stand as tragic examples of the state's deeply rooted racial strife. But even as these injustices unfolded, they inspired future generations to fight back.

The post-World War II era marked a turning point in Florida's Civil Rights movement. With veterans returning from war, having fought for freedoms abroad they were denied at home, momentum for change grew. The 1950s and 1960s became a time of mobilization. Black Floridians stood on the front lines of protests, sit-ins, and boycotts, inspired by leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Florida's own Civil Rights champions, including Harry T. Moore and Mary McLeod Bethune.

Harry T. Moore, a schoolteacher and NAACP leader, and his wife Harriette were killed by a bomb placed in their home on Christmas Day 1951. Their assassination shook the state and nation, marking the first Civil Rights activist to be martyred in the movement. Despite this, Moore's legacy ignited a fire that fueled future activism across the state. The student sit-ins in Tallahassee in 1960, led by Florida A&M University students, were a bold display of defiance against segregation in public spaces.

Florida’s legal battles also played a crucial role in shaping the Civil Rights landscape. The case of Virgil Hawkins, an African American who fought for nearly a decade to gain admission to the University of Florida’s law school, became a symbol of the legal struggle for educational equality.

The passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965 marked major victories, but Florida’s fight for justice and equality was far from over. Black Floridians continued to push for fair housing, labor rights, and access to quality education well into the latter part of the 20th century. Cities like Miami and Jacksonville became centers of activism, where Black leaders advocated for economic empowerment and political representation.

As we move into the 21st century, Florida’s Civil Rights story is one of both triumph and unfinished work. The state has produced towering figures in the fight for equality, but it has also faced continued challenges with racial disparity in housing, education, and criminal justice. New movements, inspired by the legacy of those who came before, continue to rise.

In my role as Director of the Florida State University Civil Rights Institute, I am reminded daily that the work of Civil Rights is ongoing. It is not only a history to be remembered but a responsibility to be carried forward. The paintings I create, the exhibitions I curate, and the stories we tell at the Institute are more than a tribute to the past—they are a call to action. As we honor Florida’s Civil Rights champions, let us also recommit ourselves to the fight for justice that lies ahead.

Let our legacy be not only one of survival but of transformation, where the vision of freedom and equality, painted so vividly by those who came before, continues to inspire our future.