Sarasota, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida has a rich and long history, including contributions from Black residents. There are areas throughout the state that emphasize these struggles and efforts. Some of these key moments appear in Tampa’s public library, Robert W. Sanders. But there is a massive push on a central location for respecting and learning about Florida’s black history.
Republican Tom Leake, outside the Jacksonville area, introduced Senate Bill 466 in the 1700s to build the Florida Museum in St. John’s County, the state’s first black settlement.
“One of the great things about St. Augustine is that the entire tourism culture is built around history. So when you add a museum to Florida, you want a place where it can be viable,” Leek said.
In May 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to the Act that would create a task force to find a location. The governor was then appointed to the task force along with the then Senate and House leaders.
“What my bill does is codify what the task force actually decided and put a structure on what the museum will be,” Leek said.
Bruce Anton, a Democrat from the Orlando area, is the lawmaker who introduced the steps to create that task force. I’m hoping for a different outcome now. He plans to introduce the bill to a museum in Etonville, north of Orlando.
“There are 1.5 million people in the middle of Orange County, Florida. Their museum is in an inaccessible place, but at least I think it’s not accessible,” Anton said.
Anton also said his ideas for the museum will focus on positivity from Black residents and communities in Florida. He also feels that his planned museum will attract more pedestrians as he is very close to the theme park and is critical of the task force’s choice.
“A city of 15,000, 700 black people. It’s at least an hour away from Jacksonville,” Anton said.
Anton is planning to sell his ideas to lawmakers, saying there is room for two museums in the state. However, it appears that the Republican-led Congress will only move forward with St. Augustine’s plans. The next step is for the foundation to start raising funds if they pass. Officials in the proposed area have already guaranteed funding for the museum.
State documents show that Marian Anderson Place in Sarasota was the proposed site. City officials are hoping to have chosen the city as they are known for helping to integrate public beaches, as they are a place where hundreds of fugitive slaves are settled.
