Media

When Juneteenth became a federal holiday, it overshadowed the emancipation stories that came before it. While Juneteenth commemorates the day when enslaved individuals in Texas learned of their freedom, the story of emancipation in Florida is older and more complicated. The 20th of May has been observed as Florida’s emancipation day for nearly 160 years as the day the majority of Florida’s enslaved population was freed. Due to Florida’s status during the US Civil War, there were even earlier celebrations in the state.

Produced and directed by Dr. Tameka Hobbs, “Before Juneteenth: Florida’s Emancipations” sheds light on the complex history of emancipation in Florida, contextualizing the process of emancipation before, during, and after the Civil War. It also highlights the culture-keepers across the state of Florida working