October is Family History Month, a celebration established to promote awareness of individual narratives and ancestral genealogies. But because of the legacy of slavery in the United States, the stories of Black Americans are often hidden in oral histories or in the remains of plantation accounting books.
The Black Archives — founded by renowned Miami historian and former public school librarian Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields as a registry of materials dedicated to the history of Black people in South Florida — hosted its first Family Roots Festival this past weekend, aiming to promote the importance of preserving family archives in the Black community.
The inaugural event was held at the Historic Lyric Theater, a local and national landmark built in 1913 that was acquired by The Black Archives in 1988. The theater is a mainstay of Miami’s historically Black Overtown community and continues to present programming from fine arts exhibitions to spoken-word performances.
The Historic Lyric Theater is a Florida Heritage Site and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“We’re living in a time where there is legislation against preserving our history, where there is a section of society that believes that our information and our history is not valuable enough to teach our children,” said The Black Archives President and CEO Kamila E. Pritchett. “This is when it’s critical that organizations like The Black Archives step into the gap.”
The Black Archives partnered with the HistoryMiami Museum to present a workshop on the preservation of family archives.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
In Pritchett’s eyes, everyone is entitled to a connection with their ancestry. Despite legislative threats and societal undervaluation, the goal of The Black Archives is to provide a manuscript and photographic repository for children, families and researchers to learn about Black history.
Archive Manager Brianna Senter emphasized the need for Black residents to value and preserve their experiences to ensure accurate narratives. She referenced the steps she has taken to personally do so, creating annual photobooks for her family’s records.
The Family Roots Festival featured workshops in which attendees were able to share their family stories in small groups.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“To me, preserving history is vital,” said Senter. “You want your truth to be told.”
The Family Roots Festival primarily focused on intergenerational interactions between older and younger people within the local Miami-Dade community. As oral histories age, they may become distorted. But The Black Archives promotes using social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube to engage younger generations in historical preservation.
“I find that we don’t realize that we’re making history until it’s already history,” said Pritchett. “I think that the underestimation of our worth, our importance, and our significance is something that is seen through us not saving the things that are happening in our lives… You don’t know how vital you are until there are people standing on your shoulders.”
During one of the workshops, Brian Halstead, a local real estate agent, shared his personal experiences with his own family archive.
The Family Roots Festival was primarily held in the lobby of the Historic Lyric Theater, which is decorated with various Black art instillations.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“I’m from Jamaica, but I found out I’m 78% Nigerian,” said Halstead. “Sometimes, when we’re not exposed to the truth, we have blinders. As people, we have a lot of similarities. Sometimes we need to open our eyes before we come to conclusions.”
Halstead urges Black Floridians to test their DNA to see where their ancestors originated. Although Miami is one of the most multicultural metropolitan areas in the U.S., many Black residents are not yet aware of their roots. In communities like Overtown, where Black people make up nearly half of the population, there is a significant push for families to begin preserving their history. Whether native or foreign-born, Halstead stressed, the importance lies in reclaiming the Black narrative.
The Family Roots Festival featured a video history segment sponsored by the Black Broward Film Project.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“I am a resident of Overtown, and I’ve come to love the African American community here,” said Halstead. “They have been through so much, have done so much for this country and gotten so little credit.”
The Black Archives, however, has seen easier days. Currently grappling with grant losses, the organization is struggling to pivot to other sources of funding. They’re looking now to renting out the Lyric Theater to help subsidize their operations and administration costs.
Overtown was once known as the “Harlem of the South.”
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“The Black Archives is always going to be relevant to those people who are interested in Black history, who are interested in preservation, who are interested in research,” said Pritchett. “But of course, that’s not, for lack of a better phrase, sexy enough to sustain itself.”
Where The Black Archives used to rely on government funding for its operations, they are now hoping that community involvement can help them stay afloat. The Lyric Theater, once saved by The Black Archives, is now in a position as an asset of the organization to save the archives themselves.
“There are ways to mesh what is traditional with what is trending,” said Pritchett. “We want to get something enduring when it comes to what preservation, history, and storytelling look like.”
There are several ways to support The Black Archives, including becoming a member, contributing to the endowment fund, purchasing a tribute to a family member in the Historic Lyric Theater, or becoming a volunteer. The organization is also participating in this year’s Give Miami Day on Nov. 20.
Find out more information about how to get involved in supporting this foundational piece of Black Miami’s history at bahlt.org.
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Attendees of the inaugural Family Roots Festival received gift bags with information about the Historic Lyric Theater when they arrived.
The Historic Lyric Theater is located in Overtown at 819 N.W. Second Ave.
Attendees of the inaugural Family Roots Festival received gift bags with information about the Historic Lyric Theater when they arrived.
The Historic Lyric Theater is located in Overtown at 819 N.W. Second Ave.