ESTEBANA
Volume III 2026
Florida Museum of Black History Newsletter
MOMENTUM CONTINUES: State Investment Reaches $2 Millionfor Florida Museum of Black History State leaders reaffirm their commitment while the Foundation expands advocacy, partnerships, and community engagement across Florida. Every great institution begins long before its doors open, this quarter represents another important
Features
St. Augustine Set to Welcome its First Black Mayor
On December 7, St. Augustine City Commissioner Cynthia Garris will become the city’s first Black mayor in its 461-year history. “Commissioner Garris is making history as the first Black mayor of St. Augustine, and with that brings a shift in the leadership landscape and direction of the city,” said outgoing Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, who opted not to run for another term. “I have high hopes that her passion for compassion will continue the important work of building unity and respect for everyone in
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Innovator and Entrepreneur
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was never one to shy away from a challenge. As an African American woman living at the turn of the 19th century, Dr. Bethune faced a tremendous amount of adversity and setbacks, which she met with a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and a knack for innovative thought. To this day, her legacy
The Magnificent Twelve: The Legacy of Florida’s Black Junior Colleges
For generations of Black Americans, education has represented far more than academic achievement. It has been a pathway to opportunity, economic mobility, leadership and greater independence—often pursued despite formidable barriers to access. In Florida, that determination helped shape a remarkable chapter in
The Moody Bridge is only a few hundred yards long. Drivers cross it in less than a minute, rarely giving it a second thought. But for generations of Flagler County residents, that short span marked a boundary far greater than water. It divided communities, shaped lives, and determined where some people…
‘Both Sides of the Bridge’ brings together the voices of longtime Black and white Flagler County residents to preserve their memories of race, access and community—and the history they share. Watch the trailer for a glimpse into the stories at the heart of the project.
More Than a Game: The Florida Classic and the Enduring Power of Florida’s HBCUs
For a century, the rivalry between Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University has reflected something larger than football: the evolution of Black education, culture, opportunity and community in Florida. When Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University meet on the football field, the scoreboard
FAMU Acquires Historic Brickler Property, Extending Legacy of Health Care and Service
A property where generations of Black physicians cared for Tallahassee families will begin a new chapter under Florida A&M University, continuing a legacy of health care, education and community service that stretches back nearly 70 years. FAMU acquired nearly an acre of property along
Journey of Fate Becomes Moment of Recognition
Two years after a charter bus fire nearly derailed a high-stakes trip to the state capital, 54 community leaders, educators and advocates were honored April 21 in the rotunda of the St. Johns County Administration Building—a recognition that doubles as a milestone in the campaign to bring Florida’s Black
As the St. Johns County Commission recognized those who helped bring Florida’s Black History Museum to St. Augustine, the Foundation for the Museum of Black History shared ‘We Brought the Smoke,’ a short video honoring the people behind the achievement.