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Juneteenth when Emancipation Day is celebrated nationally is taking a back seat in Florida to May 20, the day the Emancipation Proclamation was first read in Tallahassee.
To honor the occasion, The Village Square, Leon County and the Tallahassee Democrat are partnering to reintroduce the importance of Florida s Emancipation Day during the annual Created Equal event.
Florida Emancipation Day celebrates the day Union troops declared the Emancipation Proclamation effective across the state, thus signaling the freedom of enslaved people specifically across Florida.
Though state statutes still recognize June 19 the official day of emancipation, historians have been advocating for May 20 to become the day recognized across Florida. Proponents say they simply want to be true to the day emancipation occurred in Florida and be specific to local history.
“CMPA created the Torchlight Center exactly for this opportunity to encourage faculty, students and alumni to work together on projects here in Florida. We are excited to see these efforts begin to pay off.”
“Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots,” which sheds light on the little-known history of plantations and the enslaved in North Florida, will premiere on WFSU at 9 p.m. Thursday, May 20.
“While this project focuses on northern Florida, it is a microcosm of the idea of how slavery shaped all of America, which makes it, we believe, a relevant documentary for national distribution,” Scoon said.
The project benefited from the expertise of faculty from FSU and Florida A&M University, as well as support of local museums and archival resources.
Living history frames Riley Museum s Emancipation Day celebrations
Amanda Sieradzki
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In the early 2000s, the Riley Museum and the Knott House Museum came together to create a community-wide celebration for Florida’s Emancipation Day the day in Tallahassee when enslaved people in Southern states were declared freed.
The annual commemoration takes place on May 20 each year and includes a grave decorating ceremony in honor of John G. Riley’s reverent walks to the cemetery to honor United States Colored Troops soldiers.
Instead of a walk through living history, there will be a drive-thru Living History Festival and Day in the Park on Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m.- noon, at Speed Spencer Stephens Park,1907 Saxon St. Historical reenactors will be engaged in activities of the era and attendees will be able to enjoy the festival from their vehicles.
Airbnb in Tulsa: 15 Stays for the Vacation of a Lifetime
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If you’re considering a trip to Oklahoma, booking an Airbnb in Tulsa may be your best course of action.
Often referred to as the “Oil Capital of the World”, Tulsa is home to the iconic Philbrook Museum of Art, remnants of the Historic Route 66, and world-class restaurants where, among other things, you can experience the majesty that is Oklahoma’s distinct barbecue.
The city’s lucrative economic history has resulted in some incredible architecture and a booming tourism sector, so you can expect to find a plethora of amazing rentals here.