Over 400 years ago, in 1528, an African named Estevanico first set foot in Florida near present-day Tampa as part of a Spanish exploration party. Since then, African Americans in Florida have continued to set examples of courage, perseverance, and leadership. In this book you will read about some people you may already know about—such as Ray Charles and Carrie Pittman Meek—and many others whose lives are also inspirational, even if their names are not so familiar. Though many African Americans started life in poverty and had to fight racial injustice, their stories prove that the desire to succeed can overcome many obstacles. They followed their dreams to become teachers, artists, soldiers, lawyers, nurses, sports stars, authors, and many other occupations. Their important contributions to the state and to the country enrich us all.

This book also includes detailed descriptions of the 141 historical and cultural sites on the Florida Black Heritage Trail and a calendar of significant dates in the history of African Americans in Florida.