My mother was a member of the Mt. Zion church. Her funeral held there. We were born in Miami, overtown, Florida. We didn’t know we were poor. Now we look back and wonder how we got over.
I truly thank you all or this... born and raised in dade and I’m just now researching my hometowns history... this added to the wealth of info that I received by watching The Black Miami. Keep these coming. And let’s get some advocacy going...
Overtown is the heart of Miami's black community. When 95, 395 and Dolphin Expy were built in the heart of OT, it was a matter of time before Overtown went down.
My grandma owed a rooming house behind the Longshoreman. She housed a lot of celebrities. After she passed away 1983, we lost contact with a lot of our family.
Residents of Overtown & Miami should take a cue from what is happening around N 2nd st. & 50th, the area that is being developed by "magic city," the debate over Little Haiti/ Old Lemon city/ Eastside Ridge. Little Haiti has formed a grass roots effort to preserve the cultural significance of little Haiti. In my humble opinion, Overtown- "old colored town," & Liberty City has deeper roots in Miami then little Haiti, and the people of Overtown need to make it plain that Overtown is not for sale. As this documentary points out their are Churches that have existed in Miami that are old as Coconut Grove, existing before Miami was even incorporated. Furthermore city father & philanthropist Henry Pflegler donated millions in land and money in the early 2oth century to black churches and lodges to take root. The first black millionare "the dorsey home, players from the old negro league and the black luminaries like Ray Charles and Mohamed Alli, etc. that used to flock to old colored town, the many recording artists that were recording at Henry Stones original critical sound studios (Miami's motown) TK Disco in neighboring Liberty City, up into the late 70's. Overtown cannot sell out, Dorsey Park and the Youth Center should be just a start, Overtown was Miami's equivalent to NY cities Harlem, and could be big as Little Havana, during Calle Och, even millionaire's like Drake & Pit Bull are showing interest in this, so it is a matter of pulling together in a concerted effort and continuing to let our voices be heard in these and other platforms. Long live Overtown!
There are no jobs in Overtown;so the young people have moved out to Broward county ,to Orlando,to Central Florida .Now Overtown is full of Bahamians,Jamaicans and even being absorbed by Latin people
I liked the video footage from the old days. Must have been from the 1950s. Sure was nice back then. There were businesses of all kinds, and what I noticed most was how well-dressed the people were.
It shouldn't take segregation and whatever else came with it for blacks to have thriving communities. Fundamentally, we got some other shit going on with us
I would not necessarily single out integration of the root cause of the problems, even when Overtown was still called old-colored town whites would come to town for the entertainment and such. If anything is to blame it would be Miami's urban renewal, The construction of I-95 through town, and gentrification by wealthy White & Cuban developers. I am still hoping to see a Renaissance, I love the people of Overtown, it is not nearly as bad as many say, statistically it is actually one of the safer neighborhoods, imho Opaloka, Miami Gardens, and Florida City are much worse in comparison, not much difference to me then W Perrine & Richmond Heights on the South Side, biggest problems seem to be unemployment, drugs and some gang activity.
I-95 and THE" Pork & Beans," federal Housing (URBAN RENEWAL) in Liberty city late 60's was the beginning of the biggest curses leading to the dispersal and to the current hood image which has stigmatized the area as a dangerous and has caused more separation today then when it was a segregated community known as "old colored town." I believe in this community and in my eyes you are winners, we need to stand together in solidarity, concertedly and reclaim our vibrant community, I am hoping that the future holds a return to glory days as Miami continues to become an international tourist hub for the world.
I had accepted a new apartment over there. When I moved to Florida. But I was afraid for my black son. Who’s vibrant and everywhere he goes he’s magnet for people who jealous of him. I walked away in a month
A rich beautiful childhood there never to be forgotten.
Thank you for creating this, Miami needs more documentaries like this!
My mother was a member of the Mt. Zion church. Her funeral held there. We were born in Miami, overtown, Florida. We didn’t know we were poor. Now we look back and wonder how we got over.
I truly thank you all or this... born and raised in dade and I’m just now researching my hometowns history... this added to the wealth of info that I received by watching The Black Miami. Keep these coming. And let’s get some advocacy going...
Do you have any resources you can recommend? Documentaries, websites, etc.? I’m just now starting research
Overtown is the heart of Miami's black community. When 95, 395 and Dolphin Expy were built in the heart of OT, it was a matter of time before Overtown went down.
My grandma owed a rooming house behind the Longshoreman. She housed a lot of celebrities. After she passed away 1983, we lost contact with a lot of our family.
Home sweet home overtown !
This was beautiful thank you
Awesome documentary, very insightful. Thanks for sharing.
Residents of Overtown & Miami should take a cue from what is happening around N 2nd st. & 50th, the area that is being developed by "magic city," the debate over Little Haiti/ Old Lemon city/ Eastside Ridge. Little Haiti has formed a grass roots effort to preserve the cultural significance of little Haiti. In my humble opinion, Overtown- "old colored town," & Liberty City has deeper roots in Miami then little Haiti, and the people of Overtown need to make it plain that Overtown is not for sale. As this documentary points out their are Churches that have existed in Miami that are old as Coconut Grove, existing before Miami was even incorporated. Furthermore city father & philanthropist Henry Pflegler donated millions in land and money in the early 2oth century to black churches and lodges to take root. The first black millionare "the dorsey home, players from the old negro league and the black luminaries like Ray Charles and Mohamed Alli, etc. that used to flock to old colored town, the many recording artists that were recording at Henry Stones original critical sound studios (Miami's motown) TK Disco in neighboring Liberty City, up into the late 70's. Overtown cannot sell out, Dorsey Park and the Youth Center should be just a start, Overtown was Miami's equivalent to NY cities Harlem, and could be big as Little Havana, during Calle Och, even millionaire's like Drake & Pit Bull are showing interest in this, so it is a matter of pulling together in a concerted effort and continuing to let our voices be heard in these and other platforms. Long live Overtown!
Loved the video. Great job!
I knew that there was so much history out of Overtown, but wasn't aware if anybody told the story. We only hear about the negative part of it now.
worked at Moore park home of the generals on 36 st for 4 years love Miami brah
Did some of the people from the great migration in the 50s and 60s from states like AL or MS come to miami???
Actually South Carolina and Georgia
great work !
Foundational Black Americans built Overtown 🇺🇸🇺🇸
Yep that Gullah geechee/yamasse blood of people of south Carolina and Georgia.
There are no jobs in Overtown;so the young people have moved out to Broward county ,to Orlando,to Central Florida .Now Overtown is full of Bahamians,Jamaicans and even being absorbed by Latin people
And the Caribbeans come to the area with no skills
I liked the video footage from the old days. Must have been from the 1950s. Sure was nice back then. There were businesses of all kinds, and what I noticed most was how well-dressed the people were.
This was way before the 60's hen e as blacks had respect for ourselves and our communities we should of never integrated worse thing we ever did.
It shouldn't take segregation and whatever else came with it for blacks to have thriving communities. Fundamentally, we got some other shit going on with us
I would not necessarily single out integration of the root cause of the problems, even when Overtown was still called old-colored town whites would come to town for the entertainment and such. If anything is to blame it would be Miami's urban renewal, The construction of I-95 through town, and gentrification by wealthy White & Cuban developers. I am still hoping to see a Renaissance, I love the people of Overtown, it is not nearly as bad as many say, statistically it is actually one of the safer neighborhoods, imho Opaloka, Miami Gardens, and Florida City are much worse in comparison, not much difference to me then W Perrine & Richmond Heights on the South Side, biggest problems seem to be unemployment, drugs and some gang activity.
I-95 and THE" Pork & Beans," federal Housing (URBAN RENEWAL) in Liberty city late 60's was the beginning of the biggest curses leading to the dispersal and to the current hood image which has stigmatized the area as a dangerous and has caused more separation today then when it was a segregated community known as "old colored town." I believe in this community and in my eyes you are winners, we need to stand together in solidarity, concertedly and reclaim our vibrant community, I am hoping that the future holds a return to glory days as Miami continues to become an international tourist hub for the world.
I’m homesick now 😭
ya hear me!!!!
Thanks for sharing this 😒
Just posted this on my FB.
Who is the woman speaking? Is that Dr. Fields?
Yes
GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYS. PEOPLE HOLD ON
The sound went down.
I had accepted a new apartment over there. When I moved to Florida. But I was afraid for my black son. Who’s vibrant and everywhere he goes he’s magnet for people who jealous of him. I walked away in a month
Wavey
Mt Olive Baptist Church ❤❤
❤
Shout out to the Forbes family
:)))
What it needs is some white people to much segregation in this country we all bleed the same color god bless
Destroyed