County’s Created Equal Discusses Local Black and Brown History During Bicentennial

Yesterday, Leon County Government and The Village Square hosted the ninth annual Created Equal program titled “Created Equal: A Bicentennial Tribute to Black and Brown History" in recognition of the Tallahassee-Leon County bicentennial. Hundreds of residents gathered at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., for this award-winning program to examine the stories of Black and Brown people, their achievements, and their contributions to our County’s history.

"To commemorate the rich 200-year history of Leon County, we must acknowledge and celebrate the collective history of all groups who have contributed to this history,” said Leon County Commission Chair Carolyn D. Cummings. “In that regard, we celebrate the importance and significance of Created Equal because it has created a platform for citizens to come together, dialogue, and truthfully reflect on the two-century-long history of our community.”

In an effort to recognize the history of Black and Brown communities in Tallahassee-Leon County, the panel discussed the stories of resilience, determination, and remarkable accomplishments of Black and Brown individuals who have called Leon County home throughout its two-century existence. The panel included the John G. Riley House Center & Museum for African American History & Culture founder and local historian Althemese Pemberton Barnes, Tallahassee Community College History Professor Dr. Andrea Oliver, founder and co-executive director of the Florida Civil Rights Museum Delaitre Hollinger, and nationally acclaimed filmmaker Valerie Scoon, with WFSU’s Tom Flanigan serving as moderator. Following the panel discussion, residents were invited to join the discussion with roundtable conversations.

“By understanding the experiences of others and reflecting on this special place that so many call home, this year’s Created Equal built upon the success of previous programs and continued to encourage frank conversations on race from a local perspective,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long.

Since 2015, the Created Equal program has brought thousands of citizens together to discuss race-related issues within our community, including previous topics such as the anniversary of the Tallahassee Lunch Counter Sit-Ins and Florida Emancipation Day. This program has won numerous awards for exceptional programming and promotion from the National Association of Counties, Florida Public Relations Association, and the City-County Communications & Marketing Association.

“As we commemorate this significant milestone for our community, this impactful event provides a space to foster and strengthen community bonds,” said The Village Square Director of Strategy & Operations Kate Kile. “It’s important that we bring people from diverse backgrounds together to reflect and understand our shared history so that we may build an inclusive future for all citizens in Leon County.”

The Created Equal program is part of Leon County’s Citizen Engagement Series, which connects residents of diverse backgrounds, education, and age on a variety of topics that matter most in our community. Find the next upcoming discussion at LeonCountyFL.gov/GetEngaged.

To check out photos from this year's event, visit LeonPhotos.org/7May2024CreatedEqual. 

For more information, contact Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.

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