County’s Annual Created Equal Event To Recognize Florida Emancipation Day on May 20 

County’s Annual Created Equal Event To Recognize 

Florida Emancipation Day on May 20 

Leon County, The Village Square and Tallahassee Museum Honor Statewide History 

As part of the Club of Honest Citizens series, Leon County Government, The Village Square and Tallahassee Museum will host the sixth annual “Created Equal: Stretching Towards Freedom, A Conversation about Florida Emancipation Day” on Thursday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. RSVP to attend Created Equal, by visiting www.LeonCountyFl.gov/CreatedEqual.  

This year’s Created Equal event commemorates Emancipation Day in Florida. Recognized on May 20, this holiday marks the first announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Leon County. 

To honor the past and look to the future, Created Equal 2021 will highlight both local and state-wide historians as they discuss Florida’s history of enslavement, civil rights and how we continue to stretch towards freedom today.  The panel discussion will include: 

• Larry Rivers, a Distinguished Professor of History at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee. Dr. Rivers provides a rich background of knowledge on slavery and emancipation and is the author of “Slavery in Florida: Territorial Days to Emancipation”.

• Althemese Barnes, the founding director of the John G. Riley Museum, and the founding director of the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network, a statewide professional museum association that serves as a resource in preserving Florida’s African American culture. In addition to her leadership, Ms. Barnes is also responsible for 23 historical publications. 

• Paul Ortiz, the Director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program and professor of history at the University of Florida. Dr. Ortiz brings a unique perspective to the panel being an accomplished author of works including "Emancipation Betrayed: The Hidden History of Black Organizing and White Violence in Florida from Reconstruction to the Bloody Election of 1920”.

The journey toward freedom that began 156 years ago on the steps of the Knott House continues today in our community. Across the years and across the state, attendees will be asked how we have and will continue to stretch towards freedom. 

From Union General McCook’s announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation to local Lunch Counter Sit-Ins led by Patricia Stephens Due, Leon County has been home to many vital moments in the stretch towards freedom and mirrors the greater struggles of black citizens across the state and country. In recognition of this state-wide history, Leon County Government is dedicated to continuing education and conversation on this topic through its Created Equal programming. In addition, on September 29, 2020 Leon County became the first county in Florida to officially recognize Florida Emancipation Day. 

The virtual Created Equal event will also include artistic performances from the Godby High School choir and Omega Lamplighters with a guest appearance of Royce Lovett. 

To RSVP to attend Created Equal, visit: LeonCountyFL.gov/CreatedEqual. 

For more information, contact Eliza Chase, The Village Square at (850) 281-1223 / Eliza@VillageSquare.Us or Leon County Community and Media Relations at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov. 

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