Date: May 10, 2022
Three showings of a documentary about Florida Black history are planned May 13, 14 and 20
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 10, 2022) – In celebration of Emancipation Day in Florida May 20, the Lee County Black History Society offers free screenings of “Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots.” The movie will be shown at Roberto Clemente Park, 1936 Henderson Ave., Fort Myers.
On Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m., the movie will be shown in the park. One Saturday, May 14 at 3 p.m., the movie will be shown in the community room at the park. Space is limited, and participants should pre-register. On Friday, May 20, at 6 p.m., the movie will be shown at the Dunbar Community School, 1857 High St., Fort Myers.
Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts Filmmaker in residence Valerie Scoon’s documentary, “Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots,” sheds light on the little-known history of plantations and the enslaved in North Florida.
“The Lee County Black History Society is a unifying organization, which instills in all generations hope and pride in Black culture,” said society Chairman Charles Barnes. “This movie and other activities planned with partner organizations to commemorate emancipation in Florida and the United States are important to the complete understanding of our community and our culture.”
Emancipation from slavery was proclaimed in Tallahassee on May 20, 1865, 11 days after the end of the Civil War, and two years after the Proclamation first issued by President Abraham Lincoln freed those enslaved in Southern states. The movies lead up to Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and a federal holiday.
The Lee County Black History Society will also join with the Dunbar Festival Committee in the Juneteenth Community Festival’s Family Day in the Park on Saturday, June 18 from 12 to 6 p.m. at Roberto Clemente Park.
For information, contact the Lee County Black History Society at 239-332-8778 or at blackhistory@leecountyblackhistorysociety.org
This news release was featured in The News Press Top 5 Things to Do section in May 2022.