Booker T. Washington’s 1912 Florida tour drew large crowds in a tense Jax

[thelakelander]

Here is a pretty cool history event taking place tonight at the Jacksonville Historical Society.


Booker T. Washington

It all happened one hundred years ago this month.  The most famous black man in America, Booker T. Washington, headed to Florida.  His last stop was Jacksonville, and a city “on edge” turned out in large numbers to see and hear him. Dr. David H. Jackson, Jr., professor at Florida A&M speaks at the Jacksonville Historical Society Thursday, March 29th on this major event in city history.

In March 1912, Jacksonville residents and leaders were anxiously preparing for Washington’s visit.  He arrived in Jacksonville as part of a Florida tour that included more than a half-a-dozen of the state’s towns.

As founder of the Tuskegee Institute and the most influential black educator of the time, his stops drew intense interest and large crowds. He traveled by train car to avoid the problems associated with the lack of hotel accommodations for blacks.

The Florida tour culminated with a tension filled Jacksonville visit on March 7, fueled by an unassociated racial incident only days earlier. Some of Washington’s friends feared he should cancel the Jacksonville visit for safety reasons.  Washington said due to the “special racial friction…it was especially necessary …to…keep his engagements in the city.” Noted white attorney and Board of Public Instruction President, George C. Bedell, introduced Washington to the crowd of 2,500 blacks and whites in the Duval Theater.

The Jacksonville Negro Business League sponsored Mr. Washington’s visit.  Among its ranks were A.L. Lewis, founder of Afro-American Life Insurance Company and Joseph H. Blodgett, real estate developer, likely the first two black millionaires in Florida.

The Jacksonville Historical Society is located at 317 A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, across from the Veterans Memorial Arena. The March 29th program begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by the speaker at 7 p.m.   Admission and parking are free.  For more information, phone, 665-0064.