The Tampa Bay History Center is set to host two significant events in May to mark the historical impact of the Emancipation Proclamation in Florida, starting with Tampa Emancipation Day on Monday, May 6, 2024.

      Scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. James at ENCORE^®, located at 1202 North Governor Street, Tampa, this free community event promises an engaging program filled with music, food, and insightful research from the University of South Florida (USF).

     Keynote speakers for the evening include Dr. Elizabeth Horge-Freeman, Dr. Cheryl Rodriguez, and Dr. Tomaro Taylorfrom USF, alongside Fred Hearns, Curator of Black History at the Tampa Bay History Center.

      A highlight of the event will be a special reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by several local dignitaries, aiming to foster a deeper connection to this pivotal moment in history. The list of readers includes Tampa City Council District 5 Council MemberGwendolyn Henderson, Tampa Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Commissioner Robert P. Edwards, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners District 3 Commissioner Gwen Myers, District 63 State Rep. Dianne Hart, Hillsborough County Public Schools District 5 Board Member Henry “Shake” Washington, Natajha Tompkins representing the University of South Florida Black Student Union, and Malachi Brown from the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO).

      The program also features performances by local artists and speakers, supported by partnerships with the Tampa Housing Authority, USF Racial Justice Initiative, and WEDU PBS.

      Continuing the celebration, Florida Emancipation Day will take place at the Chinsegut Hill Historic Site located at 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road, Brooksville, FL, on Saturday, May 18, starting at 10 a. m., with discussions on the historical significance of the location by Dr. Gary Ellis and Rodney Kite-Powell, and commentary on local archaeological findings by Dr. Michael Jones. Dr. Jesse Pisors, President of Pasco-Hernando State College, will welcome guests to free hourly tours of the historic house, courtesy of the college, starting at 11 a.m.

These events are part of the Center’s ongoing efforts to educate and inspire the public about Florida’s rich history, particularly the liberation of its enslaved population on May 20, 1865, when Union General Edward McCook read Abraham Lincoln’sEmancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee.

     For more details, visit www.tampabayhistorycenter.org. The Tampa Bay History Center, located on Tampa’s Water Street, offers a comprehensive look at Florida’s 12,000-year history through interactive exhibits and educational programs.

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     Tampa’s Emancipation Day to be celebrated May 6, 2024.