The Tampa Housing Authority commemorated the start of Black History Month February 4th with the unveiling of memorabilia from Dr. Bernard Lafayette, a civil rights activist and organizer. The collection of pictures, awards and plaques chronicle his journey as a Freedom Rider and non-violent coordinator and trainer. A native Tampan, Dr. Lafayette became a civil rights activist and organizer during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960. His most notable accomplishment was his role in the Freedom Riders movement of 1961. The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists, men and women, Black and white, who boarded buses to the Deep South to challenge the 1960 Supreme Court ruling that outlawed segregation. Dr. Lafayette, center, is shown with Joel Mezerowski, Construction Teacher; Carlisle Hamilton, Allen Thurman, Joshua Givens, Leonisha Williams, Demetrius Givens, Charles Weaver, Joshua Powell, and John Arroyo, YouthBuild Program Manager. Back row: Chris Ward, Clarence Jones, Damien Beal and Linwood Hall.  On the right are Stephanie Brown-Gilmore and Dr. Hazel Harvey, Housing Authority Board Chairman. Jerome D. Ryans is President/CEO. (Photo by Lomax McIntyre)