Black Cultural Heritage Trail Launched

(Press Release) January 15, 2024 (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) -- Black history is American history, and a partnership between historical and cultural organizations has resulted in a new initiative to honor the enduring contributions of African Americans in The Palm Beaches: the Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail.

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A living project that will continue to grow and evolve, founding partners of the initiative include the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, the Palm Beach County African Diaspora Historical and Cultural Society, the Boca Raton Historical Society, Mr. Victor Norful, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, Power Builders and Converge & Associates Consulting.

“We are honored to collaborate with so many important community partners to bring the Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail to life,” said Dave Lawrence, president and CEO of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. “This project directly aligns with the Cultural Council’s mission, which is to nurture, promote, and support a healthy, diverse, and inclusive cultural sector. Commemorating Black history in The Palm Beaches is an important part of that.”

Found online at www.palmbeachculture.com/bcht, the Trail is a self-guided tour currently highlighting 12 important historic locations and interesting adjacent sites in cities across the county. The website offers a dynamic map to help visitors navigate to each site, as well as modern-day and historic images and must-see stops across the county that honor the legacy of African Americans in shaping the identity and progress of Palm Beach County.

One such location is West Palm Beach’s historic Roosevelt Junior Senior High School, one of the county’s first all-Black high schools. Some of the city’s notable Black professionals attended the historic school from 1950 to 1970. In 1968, the school’s basketball team won the state championship in Florida’s first integrated tournament, and the band, choir and extracurricular organizations consistently earned top competitive recognition across the state and country. The school’s building is currently undergoing an extensive renovation that will include an African American museum, library and cultural center.

“Roosevelt Junior Senior High School is a significant part of the county’s history,” said alumna Deborah Raing, president of the Palm Beach County African Diaspora Historical and Cultural Society. “Roosevelt was the cultural mecca for year-round school and community events and gatherings. The strong academic environment shaped the focus of the well-prepared staff and self-motivated students, thereby resulting in unparalleled academic performance and opportunities to excel and reach their highest potential.”

An important new cultural tourism asset that will entice travelers to travel to and spend more time in The Palm Beaches, the Council plans to include referral links from its site to each point of interest, as available, and may soon add other stops such as nearby Black-owned restaurants. The project is supported by the Tourist Development Council, and more partners are expected to join in its planning as the project progresses.

“African Americans have played a pivotal and indelible role in shaping Florida’s history, particularly in Palm Beach County. From the post-slavery era to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, their contributions have been instrumental in the region’s social, cultural and economic development,” said Brian Knowles of Power Builders, an educator, historian and community advocate who contributed to the project.

Sites include the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach, St. Paul AME Church in Boynton Beach, Sunset Lounge and the Storm of '28 Memorial Park in West Palm Beach, the Lawrence E. Will Museum in Belle Glade and Powell's Battle Marker and Jesup's Battle Marker at Riverbend Park in Jupiter.
“The beauty of this project is that it represents input from many people with rich histories from across the county,” said Barbara Cheives, president and CEO of Converge & Associates Consulting. “This initiative has been several years in the making, and includes knowledge garnered from longtime African American residents of the county. This rollout is a living document, and we’ll be looking to add other historic landmarks as the project expands.”

Each location on the trail has been plotted on an interactive Google map that can be used on mobile devices or desktop computers. Palm Beach County is made up of 39 cities across almost 2,400 square miles, and the map can be used to plan a self-guided tour of the trail. Trail sites are located across the county and up and down The Palm Beaches’ 47 miles of coastline. Visitors are encouraged to check back regularly as additional cultural sites and information are added to the trail.

“As a history worker in Palm Beach County, I am proud of the progress we are making in preserving and sharing our Black history and heritage,” said Charlene Farrington, executive director of the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. “The Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail is evidence of our work and we are proud to share it with residents and visitors.”

To view the official guide for the Palm Beach County Black Cultural Heritage Trail, visit www.palmbeachculture.com/bcht.
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