Influential Leaders on the Jacksonville Black Heritage Trail

Jacksonville’s Black Heritage Trail invites you to walk through history, uncovering the powerful stories and places that celebrate the city’s Black leaders, visionaries and cultural legacy.

Jacksonville's Black Heritage Trail offers a compelling journey through time, highlighting key locations that showcase the contributions to the city's development. Along the way, explore the lasting impact of influential leaders, learning about their legacy and the rich cultural history they helped build in Jacksonville.

Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of enslaved Africans from Central and West Africa. Today, Jacksonville is home to one of the largest populations of Gullah Geechee descendants in the United States. The cultural influence of the Gullah Geechee community has been significant in shaping Jacksonville’s heritage, particularly through their contributions to language, traditions and cuisine, which continue to enrich the city’s identity. Visit the marker commemorating the Gullah Geechee community in Jacksonville at Freedom Park in the Arlington neighborhood.

James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson, influential brothers who grew up in Jacksonville, left an enduring legacy that can still be seen throughout the city. James Weldon was principal at the Edwin M. Stanton School from 1894 to 1902. Under his leadership, Stanton became the first public high school for Blacks in Florida. Though the original school building no longer operates, it stands as a historical landmark on the Black Heritage Trail.

The brothers' cultural impact is also celebrated at the Ritz Theatre & Museum in the LaVilla neighborhood, where an animatronic show tells the story of their creation of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” a hymn written by James Weldon and set to music by John Rosamond in 1900. This powerful song is now recognized as the Black National Anthem.

In addition to these landmarks, Jacksonville honors their contributions with dedications such as James Weldon Johnson Park in Downtown and Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park in LaVilla. At Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park you can find the historic shotgun house and stage, the Lift Ev'ry Voice Plaza with its wordmark sculpture, a statue of the Johnson brothers, gardens and the lifted lawn area for the community to gather. These parks integrate elements of the brothers’ legacy alongside the rich cultural history of the LaVilla neighborhood, fostering a vision for a more inclusive future.

The Johnson Brothers

Harriet Emerson was a pioneering figure in Jacksonville, and her influence can be seen through the establishment of the Boylan Industrial Training School for Girls, which she founded. The school initially provided training in general care for the sick, leading to the creation of Brewster Hospital and Brewster Hospital School of Nursing in 1900, originally located in LaVilla. Under Emerson’s direction, Brewster Hospital became the first in the city to serve Blacks, and it also became the only nursing school available to them in Jacksonville at the time. Her efforts significantly advanced healthcare access and opportunities for Blacks in the city, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

A. Philip Randolph moved to Jacksonville in 1891 where he became a key figure in the city's history and a prominent advocate for social justice. He founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first Black labor union and fought tirelessly against unfair working conditions and racial discrimination, particularly within the armed forces. Randolph’s leadership was instrumental in the eventual desegregation of the military. Beyond his work in labor and civil rights, Randolph played a central role in organizing the landmark 1963 March on Washington alongside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Randolph’s contributions to the struggle for equality are commemorated in Jacksonville with landmarks such as A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park, both located in the Eastside neighborhood, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire future generations.

A Philip Randolph Park

Eartha M.M. White, a renowned educator, entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist, made a lasting impact in Jacksonville and beyond through her work and founding of the Clara White Mission in 1904. Eartha founded the mission in honor of her mother Clara White, a formerly enslaved woman. The mission became the heart of Eartha's humanitarian efforts, serving as a center for her advocacy and social activism. The Clara White Mission still operates and provides essential services—food, housing, job training and support—to those in need, including the indigent, homeless and transient populations. Eartha’s commitment to helping others was rooted in a philosophy of inclusion. Visit the Eartha M.M. White Historical Museum at the Clara White Mission in Downtown Jacksonville or tour Eartha’s Farm & Market in the Moncrief Springs neighborhood to be immersed in her passion.

A.L. Lewis’ contributions to Jacksonville and the Black community were both impactful and transformative. In 1901, Lewis and six other prominent Black leaders founded the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, offering affordable health and burial insurance to Blacks at a time when most white-owned companies refused to insure them due to segregation. The company’s success grew rapidly and by 1919 Lewis was appointed president. During the Jim Crow era, Lewis used his financial success to support other Blacks, creating opportunities for the less privileged. In 1926, he founded the Lincoln Golf and Country Club which became the only Black country club in Jacksonville at the time. While the golf course no longer exists, Lewis’ legacy as a business leader and advocate for Black advancement remains a significant part of history.

Rodney L. Hurst and Rutledge Pearson were key figures in Jacksonville’s civil rights movement. Pearson, an activist who helped organize peaceful sit-ins, played a pivotal role in the protests against segregation. His efforts led to the violent event known as Ax Handle Saturday, when a group of Black students, including 16-year-old Hurst, were attacked for attempting to be served at a whites-only lunch counter. Hurst later documented these events in his book "It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke®!" which provides the only historically accurate account of the sit-ins and the violence of Ax Handle Saturday, due to the local media blackout at the time. Both Pearson and Hurst made lasting contributions to the civil rights movement in Jacksonville, with Pearson being posthumously inducted into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2016.

Hope and History Mural

Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes, a legendary athlete born in Jacksonville, is the only person to have won both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. His remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on Jacksonville where a statue honoring him stands at A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park, located off A. Philip Randolph Blvd in the Eastside neighborhood. Hayes’ legacy continues to inspire the Jacksonville community, celebrating his contributions to both sports and the city. 2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Bob Hayes Invitational Track Meet that began in his honor.

Alvin Brown made history as Jacksonville’s first Black mayor, serving from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in the revitalization of the city, notably investing $11 million into Downtown Jacksonville’s economic improvement in 2013. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the city’s growth and development.

Richard Norman, a trailblazing film producer between 1920 and 1928, opened the Norman Film Studio in Jacksonville where he became one of America’s most successful producers of "race movies." These films, featuring all-Black casts in roles free of racial stereotypes, were groundbreaking for their portrayal of Blacks in positive and dynamic roles. Norman's legacy is firmly rooted in Jacksonville as his studio still stands in the Arlington neighborhood. The city purchased and rehabilitated all five of the original buildings in the studio complex, preserving an important piece of Jacksonville's cultural history and recognizing Norman’s significant contributions to film and the portrayal of Blacks in the entertainment industry. On select Saturdays from 11 am-3 pm you can tour the studio to learn more.

The Jacksonville Black Heritage Trail offers a rich and powerful glimpse into the enduring legacies of these influential leaders who shaped not only the history of Jacksonville but also the broader fight for equality and recognition. Start your self-guided journey on the Black Heritage Trail today.

Jose Vega

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