July 21, 2016 - 5:30 pm -7:30 pm
Beaches Museum & History Park
Due to an unforeseen conflict, the July 21 Whistle Talk with Derek Boyd Hankerson has been cancelled. The Museum and Mr. Hankerson apologize for any inconvenience.
There is still plenty to do and see at the Beaches Museum this month! Don’t miss the last week of the Hiromi Moneyhun exhibit which ends on Sunday, July 24. The ABET/Y-BAG exhibit will open to the public on Tuesday, July 26. The Museum continues to be free to visitors thanks to the generous support of Maxwell and Edna Dickinson.
And, if that’s not enough, rumor has it that the Museum and four sites in the History Park are Pokestops!
The Beaches Museum & History Park presents author, film director and producer Derek Boyd Hankerson as he offers a lecture on “Spanish Florida the Original Underground Railroad”.
A direct Gullah Geechee descendant, Derek is a faculty member and lecturer at three Florida colleges, and has held three presidential appointments in Washington, DC.
Although most people are familiar with the Underground Railroad, which helped slaves escape to the North during the 19th century, probably relatively few are aware of a similar “railroad” running in the opposite direction that existed from the late 17th century until shortly after the American Revolution.
The Whistle Talk presentation will discuss how slaves likely started fleeing toward Spanish Florida after the British established South Carolina in 1670. The Spanish refused to return the escaped slaves and provided them with sanctuary, if they agreed to convert to Catholicism. Even Native American tribes such as the Creek, Cherokee and Yamasee provided assistance, as did the Seminole when former slaves moved deeper into Florida. Beyond Florida, the escapees also migrated to Mexico, the Caribbean and the American West.
This fascinating journey into a little known episode in early American history begins at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, in the Beaches Museum Chapel on the grounds of the History Park. Admission is free to Beaches Museum members with a suggested $5 donation from nonmembers.
For more information, please visit www.beachesmuseum.org or call 904-241-5657.
