Letter: National press ignoring St. Augustine's civil rights role
Posted: January 29, 2013 - 10:45pm
Editor: A friend sent me an article that appeared in the Philadelphia
Inquirer on Jan. 13, 2013 by Roberta Sandler entitled In St.
Augustine’s Shadows, “This old city has a wealth of little-seen but
intriguing sights.”
I was pleased to read the attention our city received and the places of interest suggested for tourist to visit. However, significant sites in the African-American community were shockingly omitted. A few include The Fort Mose Historical Society, the First Free Black Settlement in America, the Foot Soldiers Monument, in memory of the heroes in the Civil Rights struggle; Ambassador Andrew Young’s footprints in the Plaza de la Constitucion or the fingerprints of Dr. Martin Luther King that are displayed at the Excelsior Museum and Cultural Center. These are intriguing and essential places for tourist to visit.
I just cannot understand how important history in the Black community could be omitted. I hope our Chamber of Commerce and other organizations that deal with publicity and history will continue to inform cities and include the tremendous contributions of African Americans and our place in American history.
I was pleased to read the attention our city received and the places of interest suggested for tourist to visit. However, significant sites in the African-American community were shockingly omitted. A few include The Fort Mose Historical Society, the First Free Black Settlement in America, the Foot Soldiers Monument, in memory of the heroes in the Civil Rights struggle; Ambassador Andrew Young’s footprints in the Plaza de la Constitucion or the fingerprints of Dr. Martin Luther King that are displayed at the Excelsior Museum and Cultural Center. These are intriguing and essential places for tourist to visit.
I just cannot understand how important history in the Black community could be omitted. I hope our Chamber of Commerce and other organizations that deal with publicity and history will continue to inform cities and include the tremendous contributions of African Americans and our place in American history.
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